Dr. Amani Abou-Zeid,

Building the Africa we want…

During the 24th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the Heads of State and Government adopted the AU agenda 2063, with twelve flagship projects whose immediate implementation will provide quick wins for creating the Africa We Want.

The Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) is the first flagship project and it was launched and established on the 28th January 2018, during the 30th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The SAATM is critical to the African Union’s integration agenda; in particular it is a crucial logistic infrastructure for the successful operation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area, complemented by the protocol on the Free Movement of People and goods and the African Passport.

The African Union Commission has the mandate to deliver these projects for the benefit of the African Citizenry. The SAATM is expected to enhance air connectivity across the continent, thereby reducing the journey and waiting times for most passengers by more than 20%, induce competition of air services resulting in fare reduction and contribute to the growth of the Tourism industry in Africa and job creations in both sectors.

Currently, twenty-seven countries have subscribed to the solemn commitment towards the establishment of the SAATM. Africa today accounts for under four percent (4%) of the global world aviation traffic but with over a billion persons, the share of African traffic should increase to more than 10% with a fully operational single African air transport market.

Collaboration between all the stakeholders is important in ensuring the successful operation of the Market and the African Union Commission avails itself to working with the industry to fly higher this Agenda 2063 flagship project – The Single African Air Transport Market. The realisation of SAATM is vital to the achievement of the long term vision of an integrated prosperous and peaceful Africa – the Africa We Want!

Thank you.

Dr. Amani Abou-Zeid,
Commissioner: Infrastructure and Energy

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