Aviation experts and authorities believe African aviation is set to recover to its pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2024, bringing with it opportunities for economic growth and development.

“Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the aviation sector in Africa supported 444  000 direct and 6,5 million indirect jobs. It created $63 million (R1 billion) worth of economic activity and amounted to nearly 3% of Africa’s Gross Domestic Product, and 2,2% of its employment,” Barbara Creecy, Minister of Transport, said during her opening speech at Aviation Africa 2024, hosted at the Sandton Convention Centre this week.

Kamil Al Awadhi, Iata’s Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, confirmed that Iata data estimated that African aviation would return to its pre-pandemic levels by year-end.

Creecy referred to a recently Iata report, which found that, over the next 20 years, South African air transport was estimated to grow by 105%, with an expected additional 21 million passenger journeys in and across the country.

“If this target is met, air transport will support nearly 800 000 direct jobs in South Africa,” said Creecy. “For this to happen, we must work together to harmonise regulations, standards, procedures and foster greater collaboration between our aviation authorities. This will not only streamline operations but also create a more cohesive and efficient aviation eco-system across the continent in the aftermath of the pandemic.”

Iata’s March 2024 report found that Africa had not suffered a commercial airline accident for the past four years. Al Awadhi said African aviation had experienced an accident rate of 6,38 accidents per one million flights in 2023. Although this represents a decrease in accidents compared with its rate of 10,88 accidents per million flights in 2022, there was room for improvement.

According to Creecy, South Africa achieved 91% on the effective implementation of safety oversight systems following ICAO’s last audit in 2023, followed by Ghana and Ethiopia with over 88% achievement. Eleven other African states achieved a safety rating of 75%.

Aviation Africa 2024 kicked off on September 16, at the Sandton Convention Centre, under the theme ‘Bridging Skies and Leveraging Growth’

With over 1 200 delegates from over 70 countries attending, the topics explored the progress made in post-pandemic recovery, civil aviation safety and aviation’s contribution to the African economy.

Next year’s Aviation Africa will take place in Kigali, Rwanda.