Airlines operating across Southern and East Africa are a step closer to flying more direct routes after 23 user-preferred routes (UPRs) were approved as part of the region’s move towards Free Route Airspace (FRA).
The initiative, led by the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), is expected to become operational across the region by the end of 2026, allowing airlines to fly more efficient routes rather than following fixed air corridors.
According to AFRAA, the approved routes will reduce flying time, cut fuel burn and lower carbon emissions.
The approvals followed a workshop held in Johannesburg in May, attended by states, air navigation service providers (ANSPs), airlines, ICAO, IATA and AFRAA.
An AFRAA spokesperson told Travel News that 25 UPRs had been submitted by four airlines: Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, RwandAir, and Cathay Pacific.
“All the ANSPs approved 23 UPRs, in some cases as submitted by the air operators, and in others, after adjusting the trajectories,” said AFRAA.
Optimised routes
The approved routes include services linking Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, Namibia and Madagascar, and international links between South Africa and China, and Kenya and France.
Approved UPRs to and from South Africa include:
- Addis Ababa-Johannesburg
- Addis Ababa-Cape Town
- Kigali-Johannesburg
- Hong Kong-Johannesburg.
Additional approvals include Ethiopian Airlines' routes between Addis Ababa and Moroni, Victoria Falls, Harare, Lusaka, Mahé (subject to a safety case), Antananarivo, Windhoek and Gaborone, while Kenya Airways received approval for a one-way route from Mayotte to Nairobi.
Promising results
Before receiving approval, the routes underwent three rounds of operational trials during June and July.
By July 7, airlines had completed 292 trial flights using the new routes, and according to AFRAA, the trial saved:
- 26 hours of flying time
- 126 tonnes of jet fuel
- 394 tonnes of CO₂ emissions
- US$246 000 (R4,1 million) in operating costs
AFRAA said the high number of flights operating within Southern and East Africa meant performance data was being gathered quickly, increasing confidence that the FRA programme could be introduced by the end of this year.
