Kenya Airways has emphasized the need for African airlines to consolidate in order to reduce the high cost of air travel within the continent. Speaking on Friday, Allan Kilavuka, the airline’s CEO, highlighted the financial challenges facing African air travel and pointed to fragmentation in the market as a key reason for the high prices.
Kilavuka explained that travel within Africa is significantly more expensive than in other parts of the world, such as the Americas, Europe, or Asia. Intra-African flights often cost more than double the price of flights covering similar distances in other regions. According to him, the presence of many small national airlines across Africa creates competition in fragmented markets, driving up operational costs and consequently leading to higher ticket prices for passengers.
The CEO was speaking during the Aviation 101 Media Lab, a platform designed to bring together aviation experts and journalists to share knowledge and improve reporting on the sector. During the event, Kilavuka outlined that most African airlines are struggling to maintain profitability due to their limited fleet sizes. He pointed out that commercial airlines generally need at least 50 aircraft to be financially sustainable, a figure that many African national carriers are unable to meet.
Kilavuka proposed that if African countries merged their national airlines, they could pool resources, establish regional aviation hubs, and reduce duplication in operational costs. This consolidation, he argued, would allow airlines to pass the savings on to passengers by reducing the price of air tickets. He stressed that regional cooperation in aviation would strengthen the industry and benefit both the airlines and their customers.
Kilavuka also criticized the slow implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), a policy launched in 2018 aimed at liberalizing the continent’s aviation market. He noted that the delay in fully adopting this framework has contributed to low seat occupancy for many national airlines, further compounding their financial difficulties.
| Issue | Detail |
|---|---|
| High Costs of Air Travel | African air travel costs are more than double compared to other regions for similar distances. |
| Challenges for National Airlines | Most African airlines are too small, with many struggling to maintain a fleet of 50 aircraft, which is needed for profitability. |
| Proposed Solution | Consolidation of airlines across Africa to pool resources, reduce operational costs, and create regional aviation hubs. |
| SAATM | The Single African Air Transport Market has not been fully implemented, resulting in low seat occupancy for African airlines. |
Kenya Airways’ push for consolidation reflects broader concerns in the African aviation sector, where high operational costs and low profitability have long plagued many of the continent’s carriers. The idea of merging national airlines to create stronger regional players is seen as a solution to these problems, with the goal of making air travel more accessible and affordable across Africa.
Kilavuka’s comments are part of ongoing discussions on how to revitalize Africa’s aviation industry, with experts noting that cooperation and integration could help the continent’s airlines better compete in the global market.
