Low cost carrier fastjet, based on the hugely successful easyJet model in Europe, began scheduled services from its current hub in Dar es Salaam to Mwanza and Kilimanjaro and LAM Mozambique Airlines took delivery of a spanking-new jet from the Brazilian maker Embraer. Kenya Airways now has 13 of these mid-sized craft ideal for the regional routes the airline is busy adding to its schedule.
With intra-African road and rail networks in such a dire state, cheap and convenient air travel is the best option for the increasing number of passengers and cargo seeking transport.
But look underneath the surface and a very different picture emerges. The majority of African airlines are in deep crisis. During an aviation summit held in Maputo, Mozambique, in December, speaker after speaker in the industry warned that unless something was done soon, most African airlines would lose their wings permanently.
The problem is that despite signing up to the Yamoussoukro Decision in to open up their skies to all African airlines, only a tiny handful of countries have done so. Even at the best of times, the airlines business is a precarious one and competition is nakedly ruthless. In this game, big and strong is beautiful but with the exception of carriers such as South African Airways, Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines, most of the other African airlines are only just keeping above ground if they have not already crashed.
Even the larger carriers, who are doing a splendid job of connecting up Africa, have had to make bilateral agreements with each destination. At one time, it was de rigeur for every newly independent African nation to have its own airline — whether it made commercial sense or not.
