High-level air transport meeting opens in Tunis

Airlines officials and African regional institutions are to meet from May 29-30 in the Tunisian capital, Tunis, to examine challenges to free movement in Africa.

This meeting brings together stakeholders of the African air transport sector, notably airlines, civil aviation authorities, regional economic communities, international organizations, multilateral development banks and the private sector.

The objective of the meeting, organized by the African Union (AU), in collaboration with the African Development Bank (ADB), United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), African airlines and the government of Tunisia is to contributing to improving air travel services on the continent.

A statement issued in Accra indicated that participants would share information on the use of air transport services and would also examine issues relating to improving connections as well as reduce tariffs on the continent.

Africa adopted the Yamoussoukro Decision on the New African Aeronautic Policy in 1988 and the Decision on the liberalization of access to African Air transport markets in November 1999. However, the implementation of the liberalization policy has been slow.