By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
RwandAir Chief Executive
Officer Yvonne Manzi Makolo has called for concrete action to implement the
Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), while warning that rising fuel
prices, airspace restrictions and higher operating costs are placing additional
pressure on African airlines.
Makolo made the remarks at
the Aviation Africa Summit in Nairobi, where she discussed the impact of the
situation in the Middle East on airline operations and the wider challenges
facing African carriers.
She said passenger and
employee safety remains RwandAir’s primary concern, with airlines having to
adjust routes in response to changing conditions in the region.
“Our first priority is
always the safety of our passengers and our people,” Makolo said.
She noted that the impact
extends beyond route changes, with fuel prices, airspace restrictions and
rising operating costs creating additional pressures for airlines across the
industry, particularly African carriers.
On the Single African Air
Transport Market, Makolo called for African countries to move from commitments
and discussions to practical implementation.
“We need to change our
mindset from talking to doing,” she said, arguing that years of meetings,
agreements and commitments to opening Africa’s skies have not yet produced the
level of integration required.
Makolo called for
governments, civil aviation authorities and airlines to establish concrete
timelines for implementing SAATM commitments.
“It’s time to get concrete
timelines from all stakeholders — governments, CAAs and airlines — on when
implementation can happen,” she said.
