Brief
AASA calls for lower aviation costs and market liberalisation in Africa
AASA CEO Aaron Munetsi outlined five priorities to boost connectivity and reduce fares at the association’s AGM in Mauritius.
By Felo News Desk · Published
The Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA) urged governments, regulators and industry players to move beyond strategy papers and act on five priorities to lower aviation costs and expand market access across the continent. The call was made by AASA chief executive Aaron Munetsi at the association’s 56th Annual General Assembly in Mauritius on 12 Oct 2026.
What happened
Munetsi highlighted that Africa’s young, growing population could drive demand for air travel, with World Bank and OECD studies projecting a middle‑class of about 300 million by 2030. He warned that the sector remains hampered by high taxes, fees and under‑used infrastructure, limiting its economic contribution.
What the reports add
The Bizcommunity report listed the five priorities: (1) prioritise safety through investment and oversight; (2) contain aviation‑related taxes, fees and charges; (3) modernise and maintain airports while keeping user charges affordable; (4) open market access by removing anti‑competitive restrictions and implementing the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM); and (5) harmonise regulations, licences and procedures across borders.
What was said
Munetsi told delegates, “We need to design aviation around reasonably priced flights that depart and arrive on time, with convenient business‑oriented schedules, that can be purchased using frictionless digital payments compatible with mobile money.” He added, “Strategies don’t move people. Now it is time to make the difficult decisions and execute them.”
How it came about
The appeal follows years of discussion on African aviation challenges, with consultants producing costly strategies that have not been implemented. AASA’s push for concrete action aligns with earlier Felo coverage on aviation‑related cost pressures, such as the fuel‑price surge affecting airlines in September 2026.
Key facts
- AASA CEO Aaron Munetsi called for five priority actions to improve African aviation at the AGM in Mauritius on 12 Oct 2026. (bizcommunity.com)
- The five priorities are safety investment, cost containment, infrastructure modernisation, market liberalisation via SAATM, and regulatory harmonisation. (bizcommunity.com)
- World Bank and OECD studies project Africa’s middle class to reach about 300 million by 2030, driving air‑travel demand. (bizcommunity.com)
Sources
- [1] bizcommunity.com — originally reported as “AASA urges action on aviation costs and African market access”
