Africa doesn't need national carries- Minister

HIGH airfares, nontransparent
taxes and
the over protectionism of
national airlines are standing
in the way of Africa becoming
the preferred global tourism
destination by 2063, says SA
tourism minister, Marthinus
van Schalkwyk, who spoke
at the dialogue of African
ministers at the Tourism
Indaba, which took place from
May 10-12 in Durban.
The minister urged African
governments and airlines
to look at consolidation
to be able to compete
internationally, with fewer but
stronger airlines. “We have
too many small unprofitable
national airlines on the
continent but, unfortunately,
many governments overprotect
their own airlines. If we are
honest, what is happening?
While many of our own
airlines are dying, we see
more international airlines,
like Middle-eastern airlines,
flying African routes. This
connectivity is good, but
we want our own airlines to
compete on these routes
as well.”
Alain St Ange, Seychelles
minister of tourism, agreed,
saying countries should
abandon the idea that they
need a national airline to make
tourism work. “The classic
example is the Maldives. They
are thriving and they have no
national airline. But they’ve
opened their airspace to allow
every plane to come into their
country. When more planes
come in, they ensure there is
competition and competitive
prices. We need to forget
about national airlines.”
However, it’s not that simple,
says Kendy Phohleli, SAA gm
of commercial. He told TNW
the African market was still
very regulated, which made
it a difficult one in which to
operate. He said bilateral
traffic rights were needed.
“Most African markets have
not liberalised their air space.
It makes it very difficult to
think beyond SA and to think
about de-regulating and
merging with other carriers.”
“When one starts talking
about flag carriers, the notion
of state pride comes to the
fore, as well as the security
of air supply,” adds Nico
Bezuidenhout, ceo of Mango.
He says operating on politically
important routes such as
China would be almost
impossible for SA if SAA did
not exist or if SAA was merged
with another airline. The way
forward, he says, is to continue
to leverage alliances with other
carriers and airline alliances
such as Star Alliance.
Inati Ntshanga, SA Express
ceo, says the first step is for
governments that want state
pride associated with state
airlines to participate in the
development of infrastructure
and make it cheaper for the
airlines to operate.