ASKY is Africa's regional airline currently focused on spreading interconnectivity in the West and Central Africa regions. Now in its 16 months of operation and with load factor averaging 62%, the airline is not deterred by existing glitches in its quest for market access. And with technical support from respectable Ethiopian, ASKY thinks much of partnerships with other airlines, as it feeds and de-feeds mainly from its hub in Lome. ASKY CEO, Busera Awel, who is former Ethiopian's Vice President for Commercial, here speaks of the ASKY's growth trajectory

Q: Where are you today on the journey to position ASKY in Africa's regional market?

A: After only 16 months of service in West and Central Africa, ASKY has become the first airline in this region. ASKY has the biggest network and no other airline serves as many destinations as ASKY.

Q: In terms of your numbers, how are your flights performing?

A: ASKY now operates over 60 flights per week departing and arriving at its hub in Lomé, with an average load factor of 62%. To date, nearly 280, 000 passengers have been transported throughout the sub-region.

Q: Which are the feeder markets for ASKY?

A: ASKY is operating in a big region but the markets are thin. We have effectively connected those thin markets through our network to support and feed each other. Otherwise, there is no big regional market. Our number one traffic feeder is Ethiopian Airlines, the strategic partner. As Lomé is becoming centre, we receive and feed to all airlines (Air Mali, Air Burkina, Air France, Brussels Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, etc.)

Q: What does your relationship with Ethiopian entail?

A: Ethiopian Airlines is the strategic partner, but is contractually bound to ASKY by a management contract for 5 years.

Q: Protectionism is a challenge in Africa's airline market. How is ASKY coping with this?

A: ASKY, a regional company, is well placed to know that... Despite the Yamoussoukro Decision, it had been difficult to obtain traffic rights, even from the signatory States. Senegal is still declining traffic rights to Dakar

Q: How many routes does ASKY currently have, and are you opening any stations this year especially to North and South Africa?

A: We serve 20 destinations, with a hub that keeps increasing the number of connections. Nouakchott, Malabo, Dakar, Luanda, Johannesburg are in the pipeline for this year.

Q: Fuel Price has been a challenge for the industry. What is ASKY doing to mitigate the impact?

A: The airline industry is operating at a very small profit margin. ASKY has been always trying to be more and more cost-effective airline. ASKY is controlling the fuel impact with cost control and efficiency.

Q: Apart from ET, is ASKY in any other partnership yet?

A: ASKY signed commercial partnership agreements with Air Mali, Air Burkina, Air Ivoire.

ASKY will continue to initiate and push close cooperation with the airlines in the region.

Q: Are you meeting your growth projections?

A: ASKY is progressing as planned. It is even more than projected.

Q: Are you not growing too fast?

A: Yes, but it is planned.

Q: How would you describe the state of safety and security in ASKY operations given the new concerns about these two factors in African and global air transport industry?

A: Today, ASKY sticks strictly to the safety and security required in the airline industry. Our fleet is new and the maintenance is managed by Ethiopian Airlines, which is well reputed for its quality.

Q: What is your vision for ASKY as a new African brand?

A: A perspective of becoming the first continental standard-setter, and a reliable, cost-effective airline in Africa that is responsive to the needs of Africans and all its customers.