Why African Airlines and Exporters are Paying the Price for Fragmented Skies

Africa is trying to make it easier for airlines to connect its cities and for businesses to move people and goods across borders. But as countries work towards a single African air transport market, aviation leaders say there is another piece of the puzzle that cannot be ignored: the airspace itself.

Inefficient airspace management is often affecting flight schedules, operating costs and the reliability of cargo movements. For exporters dealing in high-value or time-sensitive goods, delays can have a direct commercial impact. Tourism also depends heavily on reliable connections between African destinations.

Opening Africa’s skies.

The push comes as countries advance the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), the African Union initiative aimed at opening up African skies and making it easier for airlines to operate between markets on the continent.

Air navigation industry leaders say countries will also need to work more closely on how aircraft move through their airspace, in addition to investing in systems that allow traffic to be managed more efficiently across borders.

Delegates arrive at CANSO Conference (Photo by Victoria Amunga)

Technology and Cooperation.

“We have to be able to meet the capacity demand of, on one hand, a growing economy, but also make sure that the technology that we deploy is the right technology to enable that growth. Technology is essential for states to be able to coordinate across borders in a better way,” said Andrea Sack, CANSO Senior Vice President, Global Operations.

Preparing the aviation workforce.

Aviation experts say as aircraft movements increase and air navigation systems become more sophisticated, Africa will also need a larger and better-trained aviation workforce.

“We must strengthen training, develop the next generation of aviation professionals and equip our workforce with the competencies needed to deliver safe, efficient and resilient air navigation services,” Dr. Serah Waitiki, Director of the East African School of Aviation, said.

Aviation’s growing economic role.

Aviation contributes about US$75 billion to Africa’s GDP and supports 8.1 million jobs on the continent. Over the next two decades, the industry is forecast to grow by 4.1 percent annually, reaching more than 411 million passengers by 2046.

“Africa doesn’t need more vision documents; it needs clear priorities and a realistic path to deliver them,” said Thabani Myeza, CANSO Director Africa Affairs.The issue was at the centre of the CANSO Africa Conference 2026 in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi.

Andrea Sack, CANSO Senior Vice President, Global Operations.