Africa is a continent that, in recent years has been developing in order to ensure sustainable economic growth. The aviation industry is, therefore, a factor that contributes to economic stability, strong international relations and political affluence. However the aviation industry in the continent faces lots of challenges that hinder the economic growth and efficiency of the continent. The African aviation industry needs lots of support from not only the respective governments but also from international stakeholders and investors. Various challenges facing aviation in the African continent include:
- Inadequate infrastructure
This is the most significant challenge in the aviation industry. Many African airports have limited to almost no modern infrastructure to accommodate the increasing numbers of passengers. Many runways are in bad shape, and air traffic control systems are outdated, leading to several delays and raising safety concerns. Most African airports lack sufficient runways and weather monitoring systems and have poor lighting. This hinders large-scale international flights from landing in the various countries making Africa less competitive in air routes.
- Poor air connectivity
Africa has poor air connectivity with limited air traffic. Its poor connectivity hinders international flights from flying in the continent’s air space. As a result, it is difficult for passengers and cargo to move easily around the continent therefore hindering economic growth and tourism. Even though there has been some continuous progress, still more improvements need to be actualised to prevent limited options of direct flights between various African countries.
- High costs for flight operations
Airlines in Africa struggle to operate due to the high costs of aeroplane maintenance, fuel costs, and airport taxes, among others. The price of Jet fuel in Africa is very expensive compared to other continents due to the lack of refining industries thus the need to import from other countries. The governments of numerous African countries have also imposed extremely high airport taxes making it almost impossible to be at par with international airlines. Additionally, the purchasing power of many Africans is low despite the ever-growing demand for air travel, hence limiting the profits of many airlines.
- Lack of skilled personnel
In Africa, there is a significant lack of sufficient pilots, air traffic controllers, aircraft marshalls, cabin crew and aeronautical engineers who are responsible for flight operations. This shortage is aggravated by inadequate quality training institutions in most African states. This, therefore, makes the aviation industry in Africa less competitive. Also, brain drain is a major pain point in Africa’s aviation sector. Due to limited aviation career prospects in Africa, most of the trained professionals seek employment opportunities abroad. - Poor Governance
Africa is unfortunately known for corruption and mismanagement of funds. These practices are the key reasons for the downfall of several African air carriers. This, therefore, makes African airlines operate on losses of millions of dollars due to political interference. This instability discourages private investors and Public-Private Partnerships( PPPs) from investing in Airport infrastructure projects. Additionally, some national carriers in most African countries are heavily receiving subsidies from their respective governments. This often leads to underinvestment, and financial practices which are unsustainable.
- Costly ticket prices
In Africa, air tickets are very costly, making travel by air inaccessible for many individuals. Air travel is majorly labelled “The Haves” in African society. African airlines have a limited number of passengers who travel due to affordability being a key barrier to increasing passenger numbers. Just for thought, “If Africans themselves do not travel with their airlines, who will?” - Safety concerns
Safety and security are the most important factors in aviation. Africa had a record of poor safety concerns, with some of the issues being:- Potholes on runways
- Insufficiently trained personnel
- Noncompliance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation Standards (ICAO)
Although, for the last couple of years, the safety concerns of the African aviation industry have improved, it still doesn’t fit international standards. In regards to safety concerns, the European Union have blacklisted some of the African airlines; the latest being added to the list is Air Tanzania.
General Conclusion
Despite all these challenges that are evident in the aviation industry, Africa has lots of potential for development to increase the continent’s economic position. It is required from African leaders to purpose and ensure that there is constant positive change in the aviation industry. By African leaders avoiding corruption and mismanagement of funds, African airlines will attain their full potential. For Africa to thrive in aviation, its governments need to partner with international corporations and private investors to ensure continental development in the field of aviation.
