This book rigorously examines the air transport market liberalisation process on the African continent and presents key highlights, challenges, and impediments to embracing an "open skies" market environment in Africa. It focuses on the economic impact of air transport liberalisation, policy constraints, challenges of harmonisation, and regional economic integration and its impact on air transport development, employing a quantitative assessment based on the Air Transport Liberalisation Index (ALI) to evaluate how an open skies policy would change the competitive dynamics of air transport in Africa. Adopting a two-tier gravity model, it explores how demand and route networks would be impacted by the deregulation of the air transport market. It also applies a historical perspective by evaluating the initial ratification of the Yamoussoukro Declaration (1999), which acted as a catalyst for Africa's 2063 regional agenda, focused on establishing the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM). The book provides a comprehensive analysis of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), exploring its multifaceted impacts on Africa's single market from economic, regulatory, and sustainability perspectives. It examines the capacity and competency building of African aviation personnel. Training gaps and skills are extensively evaluated to ensure that the African region is prepared for the "new" competitive equilibrium post SAATM. Moreover, the book raises critical questions regarding the status of the African air transport market.

This book i978-3-031-61863-5transport landscape.

Autorentext

Professor Dr. Eyden Samunderu (PhD) is Managing Partner at AMENA Africa, a Programme Director at the International School of Management (ISM) in Dortmund, Germany, and an Africa air transport expert for COMESA, EASA, and AFCAC.

He is a leading seasoned international senior air transport consulting expert with a strong focus on the African market and well trusted advisor with a reputable history in aviation management and international project management. He has conducted numerous projects for the Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) as well as EU-funded projects by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) as part of the SAATM initiative and provision of consulting services to support the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) in implementing the open skies arrangement.

He is also the author of Air Transport Management - Strategic Management in the Airline Industry and African Air Transport Management- Strategic Analysis of African Aviation Market and has published several articles on air transport. His research interests include Air transport economics, competition and regulatory policy, spatial econometrics, and financial risk management.