Operationalisation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) – Support to the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC)

The overall objective of the project is to support the Implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) to strengthen aviation in Africa and considering Africa's inclusive and sustainable economic and social development.

Lifting the main obstacles to aviation development at a continental level will contribute to growth and regional integration.

The specific objectives are:

  1. To assist AFCAC (African Civil Aviation Commission) in its role of implementing agency for SAATM, as well as in addressing the Covid 19 outbreak and its damages to the air transport sector in Africa.
  2. To assist those African states that have committed themselves to SAATM in its concrete implementation, and in the removal of obstacles to the effective functioning of a single aviation market.
  3. To help convince African states that have not yet committed to SAATM to do so.

Context:    
The Yamoussoukro Decision (YD) on the liberalization of access to air transport markets in Africa, adopted on 14th November 1999 by African Ministers of Transport and entered into force in July 2000, was an important step that provides for the liberalization of scheduled and non-scheduled air transport services within Africa and aims at removing restrictions on traffic rights, capacity and frequency between city pairs for African airlines. 

The Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) was officially launched on 28th January 2018 by Heads of African States with the main purpose to accelerate the full implementation of the YD. SAATM is expected to bring about enhanced connectivity across the continent leading to sustainable development of the aviation and tourism industry with significant contribution to economic growth, inclusive job creation, poverty reduction, prosperity and integration across Africa. The initiative – the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) is the one of 12 flagships initiatives on the AU’s agenda 2063.

AFCAC (African Civil Aviation Commission): was designated in 2007, as an Executive Agency (AFCAC - EA) of the YD and for the implementation of SAATM. 

Contracting Authority:
Delegation of the European Union to the African Union