While the challenge of lack of cooperation among African airlines has been seen by many as a long-running malaise, another dimension to the gap among African airlines could be that they have not been communicating as they should. There may exist the willingness to cooperate, but the extent of reaching out to one another to establish better cooperation is a challenge in itself. Mr. David Tokoph, Chairman of InterAir and the newly elected Chairman of the Executive Committee of African Airlines Association (AFRAA), thinks communication needs to be beefed up among airlines as a basis to improve cooperation. Giving the example of his own airline, InterAir, he says it has been able to effectively establish communication with a number of African carriers including TAAG Angola to create cooperation on some routes in West and Central Africa. “I just think the key word that is needed is communication. From our point of view, cooperation does exist, it is growing. I think it’s just a question of communication,” he states.

InterAir is nurturing its Bangui operations which is a new route, even as it just opened Point-Noir-Cotonou route. The airline is going strong on West and Central Africa regions, linking with Southern Africa. It is also to establish stronger presence in Europe which it would support with its 767-200 aircraft. 

“We have 767 operating on Johannesburg-Luanda route. We are considering deploying an A330 on that route, and using the 767 for some new routes in Southern Europe,” Mr. Tokoph notes. Another of the two 767s InterAir ordered would join its fleet in the first few months of 2010. Just like the big airlines in Africa, InterAir is working hard on its expansion plans with focus on African and European markets including Johannesburg, Italy and Belgium. Having been concentrating on Africa, the airline could be looking further in 2010.

InterAir is firm on the campaign to cut carbon emissions, which can be realized through direct routes. AFRAA is also promoting this, according to Mr. Tokoph, and he believes all airlines must get on-board “to improve the longevity of our planet and for our children and their children.” Specifically, he says AFRAA is now evaluating “what we can do to reduce emission.”

However, the low yield on several routes in Africa also leads to the non-direct flights, even though the dictates of available air navigation services have compelled non-direct flights in Africa. Mr. Tokoph says “You do have to zigzag across Africa to get to your final destination because we have a lack of direct services, and that of course, is as a result of low traffic demand in some markets.” And the above scenario could mean that even when air navigation services have been adjusted to permit more direct routes, economic considerations could compel airlines to zigzag in search of improved passenger load factor. It is hoped that the growing economy in Africa would be strong enough to support Accra-Douala, or Lagos-Niamey or Durban Ndjamena, for instance.

For the airline’s CEO, the number one focus of the new AFRAA leadership should be on improving safety. The next thing, he says, will be to build and reinforce beliefs in cooperation and brotherhood amongst African carriers. “We’ve done that very well and we’ve succeeded; so, I want to try and deliver that message in my new position as Chairman to bring all the members on board and help each other.” 

Mr. Tokoph lists as another focus for AFRAA’s new leadership the effective management of airline emissions. “Environment is very important,” he stresses. In addition to the above agenda, Mr. Tokoph shows strong intention to address the blacklisting of airlines. “One thing that I’m very disappointed in is the so-called blacklist from Europe; I believe that is an issue that I’ll be spending some considerable time with the SG and the committee to figure a way to resolve.”

The new leadership of AFRAA is result-oriented to deliver stronger impact in Africa, according to the new Chairman of the Executive Committee. The essential factor, he says, is to ensure that AFRAA Secretariat is strengthened to make impact on the airline scene.  By Mr. Tokoph’s assessment, AFRAA has made some good achievements even though there’s room to improve. He expresses confidence in the continued relevance of the association saying that “under the new Secretary General, the committee and the President, things will improve.”

For opinions that may question the continued existence of AFRAA, Mr. Tokoph carpets this lukewarm disposition, saying:  “You need an association to protect and represent your rights; we have International Air Transport Association (IATA) worldwide, we have Air Carriers Organization (AACO) in the Middle East, we have the one in South America, and so forth. AFRAA is really an integral part of aviation in Africa and I think they’ve done a pretty good job so far and they are going to do a better job. We cannot do without AFRAA.”

In some circles, opinions are that dual obligation of some African airlines could work against AFRAA. But Mr. Tokoph again is confident that North African airlines, who are Members of AACO, have a strong disposition to support AFRAA. Airlines like EgyptAir, TunisAir, Afriqiyah, Libyan Air, he says, have re-stated their commitment to the African cause, stating that they are Africans first, even though they have affiliations with AACO. “They would not abandon us; they would work hard for AFRAA,” Mr. Tokoph concludes.  There is a commitment among African airlines to boost their operations and regain their lost market share in Africa and elsewhere. And the new AFRAA leadership will ideally promote bonding among the airlines besides helping them deal with common external challenges.



End