Issiaka N’Guessan in Abidjan
Abidjan hosted a forum on the recovery of air transport in Central and West Africa at the end of June, to reflect on the mechanisms for reviving the industry that has been plagued by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The regional forum on the revival of air transport was an opportunity for the Union of Central and West African Airport Managers (UGAACO) and Sodexam to « synergize the assets of the sub-region in the field of civil aviation. The Abidjan Forum brought together 15 countries out of 16, from June 8 to 10.
« Signs of recovery”
Simon Kaboré, Executive Secretary of the UGAACO says: « it is on this recovery that our survival depends » even if he recognizes that there are « certainly signs of recovery ». He notes that in 2020, there was a 70.4% drop in traffic compared to 2019. In 2021, the plunge continued at 49.2% compared to 2019 and 2022 saw a 59% drop in traffic. However, countries give to believe that the recovery is excellent and general. This is why he recommended, on behalf of President of the UGAACO, Daniel Lefèvre, that « we must control our communication by providing record numbers. »
A volume of 229 million passengers at all EU airports, that « should double by 2040”
He put a volume of 229 million passengers on all the Union’s airports and this figure « should double in 2040 », he said, while insisting that « the situation is tense ». The financial losses are estimated to 2.26 billion CFA francs in 2021, or 46% of the financial assets of 2019. He announced a recovery for « early 2024 » through domestic service, provided there is government support.
He took the example of Côte d’Ivoire with a strong involvement of the government which has invested in the national company, Air Côte d’Ivoire, in « direct support ». He believes that this support can be direct or « indirect through fiscal measures ».
Air transport is a « vector of economic growth and poverty reduction
Mamadou Zampalégré of Burkina Faso says air transport is a « vector of economic growth and poverty reduction, » arguing that « investments allow the economic development of our countries.”
He stated that « growth and economic development » have been tested by the COVID-19 pandemic, which is why it is necessary to « anticipate concerns for a real approach to recovery in relation to the pandemic » and « develop public health corridors » in case of such an exogenous event.
In Burkina Faso, Mamadou Zampalégré announced the construction of a new airport that should open in 2025 to replace the one in Ouagadougou and the rehabilitation of the one in Bobo Dioulasso. He welcomed, in passing, the holding of this Abidjan Forum as a « framework for meeting the challenges of air transport.”
« The sector remains vulnerable »
Then, Amadou Coulibaly, Ivorian Minister of Communication and Digital Economy said that « the air transport sector has been strongly impacted by the pandemic since 2020. « This sector remains vulnerable, » he acknowledged, before noting that « COVID has disrupted airport activities with 3 million job losses worldwide and in industries » related to airport activities, citing an IATA report.
He estimates that countries’ GDP has fallen by 28 billion dollars, but he states that « the effects of COVID have not wiped out the activity. Amadou Coulibaly said « agreeing on the strategic directions of our policies, capacity building, the upgrading of our infrastructure » should be among the resolutions of this Forum. While citing the case of Côte d’Ivoire, he said that with the support of the state, we went from 962,000 passengers in 2012, to more than 2,271,700 passengers in 2019 or 136% in 7 years. « Our continent is rich in its potential, its resilience and its intelligence but we must be aware of our weaknesses, » he said. With 5.7% annual growth « on average » in the sector, until 2034, the « prospects are more than promising » he said at a time when the Ivorian company has just opened a new route to Guinea-Bissau.
« A lifeline »
The sponsor of this forum, Abel Ouédraogo, head of Lys Transport, CEO of the Ebomaf group of Burkina Faso, said that « the resumption of activities for all sectors » related to air transport was « a lifeline ». He recommended « a candid assessment » of the African air sector with domestic or inter-state fares still too high for citizens with modest incomes. Air transport appears in African countries as a luxury means of transport reserved for a fringe of the population.
Kigali, the Rwandan capital, will host the World Airports Infrastructure and Equipment Exhibition next September.
