Justicia Shipena
Sub-Saharan Africa is falling behind global standards in aviation safety. The region has only implemented 59.49% of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards and recommended practices (SARPS) across 46 of 48 states.
This falls short of the global average of 69.16% and well below the target of 75%.
In response, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called on African governments to act, warning that failure to meet global standards undermines aviation’s role in driving economic growth, job creation, and social development.
In a statement on Wednesday, IATA said Africa’s aviation sector contributes USD 75 billion (approximately N$1.4 trillion) to GDP and supports 8.1 million jobs.
The association projects that the continent’s aviation market will grow at an average rate of 4.1% over the next two decades, doubling by 2044.
“More important than the growth of the sector is the impact that a successful aviation industry has on social and economic development. As governments prioritise how to deliver their agendas with limited resources, it is critical to recognise that supporting aviation underpins jobs, trade, and tourism,” said Somas Appavou, IATA’s regional director external affairs, Africa.
Namibia is a member of ITATA through FlyNamibia.
IATA outlined three key priorities, which include improving safety, reducing taxes and charges, and eliminating blocked airline funds.
The association said runway excursions were the most common among Africa’s 10 reported accidents in 2024.
It called for renewed ICAO runway safety team missions and better SARPs implementation.
Only eight of the 42 accidents recorded between 2018 and 2023 have had final reports published.
IATA called on African states to comply with ICAO Annex 13 and to adopt tools like the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) and IATA Standard Safety Assessment (ISSA) to strengthen oversight and promote a risk-based safety approach.
Taxes and charges on African air travel are 15% higher than the global average.
IATA also warned that excessive fees suppress demand and limit aviation’s ability to stimulate job creation and trade.
Hence, governments were urged to collaborate with industry when setting charges to ensure infrastructure remains cost-efficient and scalable.
Blocked airline revenues present another critical issue.
As of May 2025, African governments are withholding $1 billion in airline funds, 73% of the global total, across 26 countries.
IATA said this restricts international connectivity, forcing airlines to cut routes and reduce frequency.
It called on governments to honour their international obligations and remove barriers to financing repatriation.
“These challenges are not new, but solving them is urgent. That’s why IATA launched the Focus Africa initiative in 2023, working hand-in-hand with governments, industry, and development partners to deliver real improvements in safety, affordability, and connectivity. Aviation is not a luxury. It is an economic and social lifeline. Focus Africa is about turning potential into jobs, growth, and prosperity,” said Appavou.
On climate goals, IATA highlighted the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), now in its voluntary phase through 2026, with mandatory reporting beginning in 2027.
As of 2025, 129 countries are participating, including 20 from Africa.
IATA urged African states to support CORSIA as the only globally agreed market-based system to manage aviation CO₂ emissions.
IATA warned against introducing separate national or regional carbon taxes, which could undermine the scheme.
It said making CORSIA-eligible emissions units available would help countries meet obligations, access carbon markets, support jobs, and attract climate-related investment.
