Lack Of Direct Intra-Africa Routes Underscores Urgency Of Air Transport Liberalisation

Intra-Africa travel, particularly to destinations in west and north Africa, is still reliant on European hubs, despite efforts to liberalise the continent’s airspace through initiatives like the Yamoussoukro Declaration and the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM).

During the 2025 Intra-African Trade Fair, which took place at the beginning of September in Algiers, Wamkele Mene, Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area, called for a more integrated Africa.

“Integration is not only about trade routes, it must also be about connectivity. Many of us coming to Algiers had to connect outside the African continent. Connectivity for intra-Africa travel must be improved. In this regard the Single African Air Transport Market implementation becomes a priority,” said Mene.

According to the North Africa Post, European hubs like Paris, London, and Frankfurt continue to dominate African routes. For example, Air France is the main connector between Nairobi and Algiers.

Initiatives such as SAATM were introduced to open African skies and improve connectivity across the continent. According to the African Union: “SAATM has led to the opening of 108 new routes between November 2022 and April 2025, many of which have reduced travel times, lowered costs, and enhanced direct connections between African cities.”

Currently there are 38 SAATM members.

However, connectivity remains limited. According to research by the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), Third- and Fourth-Freedom traffic rights represented 39% of total capacity, while Fifth-Freedom operations represented 22% for intra-Africa connectivity as of June 2025.

In August, IATA outlined factors hindering Africa’s connectivity. These included:

• Aviation safety: Safety rates lag global average in implementation of ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices. The effective implementation rate is 59,49% across 46 of 48 sub-Saharan African states, behind the global average of 69,16%.
• Taxes and charges on air travel in Africa are 15% higher than the global average.
• Blocked funds: US$1 billion (R17,2bn) of airline revenue is being blocked from repatriation by 26 African governments, amounting to 73% of total global blocked funds.