SEMINAR

AVIATION IN TRANSITION
CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES OF LIBERALISATION
22nd – 23rd March, 2003 - Montreal, Canada

PRIOR TO THE 5TH ICAO

WORLDWIDE AIR TRANSPORT CONFERENCE

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Presentation by
Nick Fadugba
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CEO, AfricanAFRICAN AVIATION
Aviation Services Limited
Publisher, AFRICAN AVIATION Magazine
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Company Profile

1. Aviation Publishing
2. Aviation Conferences
3. Aviation Consultancy

With A Special Emphasis On:

* Aviation Finance
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* Aircraft LeasingAFRICAN
& Maintenance AVIATION
* Aviation Safety & Security
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MAXIM

‘Aviation Can Be A Vital Catalyst For

Africa’s Economic & Social Development’

- Company raison d'etre

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Air Transport Liberalisation

• The Underlying Theme of the 5th ICAO Worldwide

Air Transport Conference is Not WHETHER to
Liberalise but HOW to

Liberalisation is said to be Inevitable

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Africa’s Share of Global Air Traffic

• Today, African Airlines have only an approximately

2% Market Share of Global Air Traffic

• If International Air Transport is further Liberalised

Will Africa’s Global Market Share be
Increased or be Reduced?

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Challenges & Opportunities of Liberalisation

• Further Air Transport Liberalisation could provide

several benefits, such as enhanced air travel, economic
trade and tourism

But the Key Challenges are: How Air Transport Liberalisation

can be Structured and Implemented so as to ensure
that African airlines are not disadvantaged and
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put out business and their staff put out of work?
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Africa: Socio-Economic Environment

• Large & Growing Population

• Mainly Small & Weak National Economies
• Low Per Capita Income
• Little Disposable Income for Air Travel & Tourism, etc.
• Political Instability & Conflicts in Several Countries

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Key Challenges Facing Regulators in Africa

• Implementing & Monitoring the
1999 Yamoussoukro Decision on
Air Transport Liberalisation in Africa
• Providing Effective Aviation Safety Oversight
• Ensuring Equitable Economic Regulations
• Harmonising Civil Aviation Regulations
• Enhancing Aviation Security
• Funding Modern Aviation Facilities &
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Expanding Aviation Training & Education
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Air Transport Liberalisation in Africa

• Is Any Progress Being Made?
• Yes, Slowly but Steadily.
• Thanks to the Efforts of Organisations Like:
• The UN Economic Commission for Africa ( ECA)
• The AU, The African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC)
• ICAO, COMESA, SADC, ECOWAS & AFRAA, etc
• Notably, Some African Governments Have Been
More Supportive Than Others
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Obstacles & Dilemmas

• Some African Governments Are Reluctant
to Cede Control to Truly Autonomous
National Civil Aviation Authorities

• Who Will Benefit Most From Liberalisation in

Africa - African Airlines or Foreign Carriers?

Can A Developing Country Promote ‘Open Skies’

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& Still Protect its Own Airline Industry?
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African Position on Liberalisation

• It Must Be Consistent With the Yamoussoukro
Decision of 1999
• Foreign Investment – National Legislation
Should Determine the Level of Such
Investment
• Market Access Should Continue to Be Based
on Bilateral and Multilateral Agreements
Must Be F air Competition & Safeguards
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•

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African Position on Airline Franchising
• African Governments Should Require Prior
Authorisation & Verification of Any Franchise
Agreement
• Franchising Between African Carriers Should Be
Authorised Subject To The Airlines Meeting the
Designation & Eligibility Criteria of The Yamoussoukro
Decision
• Third Party Franchising Should Not Be Supported As it
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Adversely Impacts Competitive Position of African
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High Operating & Capital Costs

• Insurance - High Premiums

• Aviation Fuel - Up to 50% Higher
• Lease Rates - 15%-30% Higher
• Air Navigation- Most Expensive
• Handling Fees - Very Expensive
• Maintenance - Little Co-operation

Source: The World Bank

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Internal Pressures

• Mainly Small Domestic Air Traffic Markets

• Low Load F actors
• Higher Operating Costs than Other Regions
• Government-Regulated Air Fares
• Political Interference in Airline Decision-Making
• Management Instability & Lack of Continuity

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External Pressures

• Air Transport Liberalisation & Globalisation

• Increasing Competition from Larger Foreign Carriers
• World Bank/IMF Strictures on Government Subsidies
to National Flag-Carriers

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External Pressures (2)
• African Market is Dominated by European Airlines
- BA, Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, etc

• Asian Airlines Are Now Showing Greater Interest in Africa

- Especially South Africa

• Threat By European Charter Airlines - Countries at Risk: Egypt,

Namibia, Kenya, South Africa, Mauritius, Tunisia, Morocco, etc

• North American Airlines Have Minimal Presence in Africa

- Previous Attempts by USAfrica Airways & World Airways Failed

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Cape Town Convention

•Gives Aircraft Lessors and Lenders the ability to repossess

their assets worldwide in the event of default
• Provides Aircraft Collateral Assurance
• 60 Day Repossession / With Support of Governments
• Should Expand The Sources of Asset-based Finance

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Airline Industry – Key Regulatory Issues
• Airline Ownership & Control – Local or Foreign?
• Airline Market Access – Free for All?
• Airline Product Distribution
• Fair Competition Versus Protectionism
• The Provision of Essential Air Transport Services Vital
To National Economic Development

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Airline Growth Strategies
• Strategic Investment By Foreign Airline Partner –
Kenya Airways / KLM

• Airline Franchising –
BA/Comair, South Africa; BA/Regional Air, Kenya

• Low-Cost Carriers – Kulula.com, South Africa

• Joint Ventures – Royal Air Maroc/Air Senegal International

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Summary

• Africa Has Made Some Headway in Implementing Air

Transport Liberalisation, But Still Has Much To Achieve

• Air Transport Liberalisation in Africa Must Directly Benefit

The African Aviation Industry

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 SEMINAR
AVIATION IN TRANSITION
CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES OF LIBERALISATION
22nd – 23rd March, 2003 - Montreal, Canada

PRIOR TO THE 5TH ICAO

WORLDWIDE AIR TRANSPORT CONFERENCE

c AFRICAN AVIATION

Presentation by
Nick Fadugba
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Email: nickfadugba@africanaviation.com