During the recent Routes Africa forum in Mombasa, IATA told delegates that the African aviation market will grow to over 356 million passengers by 2038.
Over 24 million jobs on the African continent are already supported by the travel and tourism industry. Routes Africa will play a pivotal role in supporting growth in air services and stimulating economic development across the region.
Routes Africa is the longest standing and most established aviation forum dedicated to enhancing intra-Africa air connectivity. Routes Africa 2019 was hosted by Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), a state corporation responsible for providing and managing a coordinated system of airports in Kenya.
Alex Gitari, Ag. Managing Director & Chief Executive, KAA told those attending that: “Over the last two years, we have been implementing an ambitious strategy to deal with one of the key challenges also facing the aviation sector in the continent namely, expansion and improvement of capacity at our main airports. Routes Africa is of prime importance, not only to Kenya Airports Authority but to our nation and the region at large. The aviation industry plays a critical role in Kenya’s development agenda.”
While brand director of Routes, Steven Small pointed out that: “Over 5% of Kenya’s GDP is generated through tourism, which is both stimulated and supported by the aviation industry. Routes Africa 2019 comes at an exciting time for Kenya Airports Authority. I am delighted so many leading airlines are present to witness the considerable investment that has been undertaken, by the team, to facilitate this increasing market demand.”
Raphael Kuuchi, vice-president, Africa, IATA added: “Routes Africa is critical to the development of air services on the continent and these forums have made a real impact on the region. Kenya is the top three aviation markets in Africa where growth is forecast to be the strongest over the next two decades but if the full potential of the industry in Africa is to be realised, airspace in the region needs to be liberalized.”
