HILKA BIRNS / MAURITIUS
Southern African airlines met last week at the Airline Association of Southern Africa (AASA) gathering in Mauritius in an effort to find an answer to the effects of the worldwide aviation crisis. Delegates agreed that it was time to move away from traditional business methods and to consolidate, but to do so the present bilateral regulatory framework needed reviewing.
AASA chief executive John Morrison slammed the bilateral air services system as anti-competitive and out of step with modern concepts of regulating businesses in a global economy, and said it protected national carriers.
Morrison also criticised protective ownership where African states control not only traffic rights they regard as their national asset, but their national airlines: "It is another form of protection that can no longer be justified," he said.
With more than 50 plus airlines operating in Africa - many loss-making - Morrison said the region "should eliminate its fragmentation and aim to have four or five strong regional airlines".
He suggested that a rationalisation policy be adopted by the South African Development Community, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa and the Economic Community of West African States.
South African Airways is already pursuing an alliance of African carriers around the continent. The carrier's plans for regional feeder networks could be hamstrung by Africa's failure to implement the 1999 Yamoussoukro Decision liberalisation plan for intra-African skies.
Morrison believes political intervention is now needed, and says that the South African Development Bank will discuss the issue at the next heads of state meeting.
Source: Flight International
