The Secretary General of the
African Airlines Association (AFRAA), Dr. Elijah Chingosho, says
the group is making efforts to help reduce cost of operation for
African airlines in order to promote the airlines' chances of more
profitable operations. One of the measures AFRAA has taken is the
launch of a Joint Fuel Programme with nine of its airlines, with
more airlines having indicated intention to join the scheme.
AFRAA, according to Dr. Chingoshoi,
is also working at other areas where costs to the African aviation
industry are much higher than elsewhere in the world. "Among these
areas are excessive taxes and charges on fuel, passenger handling
and on the provision of certain services such as landing and air
navigation services. Also, one finds several monopoly service
providers in areas such as ground handling, catering services and
fuel supply. AFRAA is quantifying these high charges and lobbying
governments, airports and air navigation service providers to
charge competitive prices in consultation with users to ensure that
the African air transport industry is viable and that the reduced
costs can be passed on to passengers to enable more people to enjoy
convenient and cost-effective air transport services," he declares.
Further, he states that AFRAA is also lobbying for the removal of
monopolies.