The International Air Transport Association (Iata) has called for a renewed focus on aviation safety to help Africa reap the benefits of aviation connectivity. The organisation also called for a strong partnership to drive innovative solutions to the other challenges facing aviation in the region, namely security, environmental sustainability and infrastructure.
“Aviation’s connectivity has turned our planet into a global community. With two or three kilometres of runway, even the most remote outpost has access to the world through air transport. This is particularly important in Africa where there are often no land transport alternatives,” said Tony Tyler, Iata’s DG and CEO, in a speech to the African Airlines Association (AFRAA). Speaking at their Annual General Assembly in Marrakech, Tyler outlined a vision for supporting the growth of African aviation through partnership and innovation.
Iata noted concern over safety levels in Africa. In 2005 the region recorded nearly 10 hull losses per million flights with Western built jets. By 2008 that had been reduced to two. “That was still 2.5 times worse than the global average but it was a significant step forward. In 2009, the rate jumped back to 9.94 and in 2010 it was 7.41. Two hull losses so far in 2011 put the rate at 4.33 against a global average of 0.37. The trend is once again in the right direction. And there have been no hull losses this year with Iata carriers. But aviation must be safe for all airlines and in all regions. And that means we have much work to do in Africa,” said Tyler.
“It is time again to muster the political will that we found in 2005 to improve safety. I have high expectations for the African Safety Summit’s two ambitious goals for 2015: to reduce Africa’s accident rate to the global average and to remove African carriers from the European list of banned airlines. Iata does not believe that banning carriers improves safety. Implementing global standards and best practices—as we do with the Iata Operational Safety Audit (IOSA)—delivers results. Nonetheless, the list of banned airlines is a political reality that is not going to disappear. And improving safety is incumbent on all in this industry. So we need to work together,” said Tyler.
With COP17 opening next week in Durban, South Africa, Tyler repeated aviation’s commitment to environmental sustainability through its targets of fuel efficiency improvements of 1,5% per year to 2020, carbon neutral growth from 2020, and a cut in nett emissions of 50% by 2050 compared with 2005. He also noted the great opportunities for sustainable biofuels.
He also made clear the industry’s opposition to the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, which will distort markets and open the door to a patchwork approach of conflicting, competing or layered measures including taxation. “I urge all AFRAA members to stay engaged on the issue. It is important that you continue to communicate to your governments the importance of a global solution though ICAO,” said Tyler.
