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What do the Yamoussoukro Declaration (circa 1988) and the African Joint Air Services (AJAS) project (circa 1989) have in common? The answer: Both are laudable schemes aimed at enhancing African airline co-operation and they have both been delayed in their implementation by the lack of resources or commitment (or both).

The gospel according to John Robson, delivered during the recent International Air Transport Association (IATA) Annual General Meeting in Dallas, Texas, did not provide much succour to the vast majority of assembled airline executives.

The heated debate about the desirability and nature of airline industry reforms and their likely impact on smaller airlines added some zest to the 49th Annual General Meeting of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) held in Dallas, USA, in November this year.

 

 

A strong urge to merge or, at the very least, enter into some form of strategic alliance is currently gripping the airline industry in Europe and North America, even among Europe’s state-owned carriers.

The urgent need for airline co-operation in Africa is constantly reiterated. But, to be frank, not much has been achieved so far. While African Government and airline officials speak frequently and loquaciously about the benefits of collaboration, in practice most of them continue to pursue their loss-making policies in splendid isolation.

 

 

More airlines have been launched in Nigeria in the past few years than in any other country in Africa. This large bustling nation is fast-becoming an important market for commercial aircraft, spare parts and maintenance suppliers.

Airbus Industrie has emerged the winner in a major competition between aircraft manufacturers to sell new long-haul jetliners to Air Mauritius. After careful deliberation, the airline decided to purchase three Airbus A340-300s, rather than the rival Boeing 777 or McDonnell Douglas MD-11.

Peter B. Kaoma, the Managing Director of Zambia Airways, is busy implementing an urgent rescue plan aimed at stemming the national flag-carrier’s financial losses and putting it on a sound commercial footing. He admits that achieving this goal is likely to be an uphill task, but adds that he is never daunted by tough challenges

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