AFRAA calls for reduction of taxes targeting airlines

The African Airlines Association (AFRAA) is calling on African governments to reduce levies targeting airlines as one of the ways to overcome challenges faced by African airlines.

According to AFRAA, some of the major challenges making African airlines less competitive in the global market include the high cost of operations in Africa and market restrictions in a number of countries.

Reduction of taxes was one of the resolutions of the AFRAA’s 50th Annual General Assembly (AGA) held in Rabat, Morocco.

“The Assembly called upon African governments to reduce taxes, charges and fees especially those related to fuel and passengers and avoid imposing airport development levies on passengers,” reads a statement from AFRAA.

Additionally, Ministers responsible for civil aviation were urged to update their counterparts in charge of taxation, in particular finance ministers, on the details and rationale behind the International Civil Aviation Organization policies on taxation.

“We hope that the political will currently expressed for the establishment of a Single African Air Transport Market will allow us to fulfill our common destiny, to see all African states remove protectionist barriers, leading to air traffic growth on our continent, carried mainly by African companies, in the interest of the economies of our countries and our fellow citizens,” said Mr. Abdelhamid Addou, President of AFRAA and CEO of Royal Air Maroc Group.

AFRAA Secretary General Abdérahmane Berthé urged stakeholders in the aviation sector to discuss the existing barriers preventing the the African airline sector from realising its full potential.

“The Assembly also called on African Governments to facilitate youth development in aviation through affordable training and education for a safe and secure aviation in Africa, and encouraged member Airlines to prioritize youth development through their actions and put in place necessary programmes to bring this about,” said Berthé.

Kenya airways CEO Sebastian Mikosz expressed optimism that the African airline is at the cusp of a great revolution, adding that high standards should be maintained in the sector.

“African airlines face the same standards as international airlines, let’s not shy away from the high standards set out because it’s in high compliance that the African airlines will soar and thrive to even greater heights. No compromise on standards,” said Mikosz.

The African Airlines Association is a trade association of airlines from the member states of the African Union (AU).

Headquartered in Nairobi the primary purposes of AFRAA are to foster commercial and technical cooperation among African airlines and to represent their common interests.