Economic Effects Of Air Transport Market Liberalization In Africa

Africa is the smallest of the ‘regional’ aviation markets but one that Boeing and others expect to expand over the medium term. Developments on the continent that require the creation of robust and efficient air transport include growth in tourism, the export of ‘exotics’, and the emergence of modern manufacturing and high-tech industries. Africa’s regional aviation markets generally lack good airports and air traffic control, viable airlines, and adequately skilled labour. Airline safety is also a major concern. Written by a ‘Who’s Who’ of aviation specialists and policy makers, The Economics and Political Economy of African Air Transport fills an emerging void in the literature regarding Africa’s aviation markets. Its original papers focus explicitly on the economic and political dimensions of the subject, although with relevance to the strategic planning and management of airlines and their associated infrastructure. Topics discussed include external and internal market efficiencies, air service liberalization, the emergence of new carriers, safety and security, low cost airline and other business models, and airport economics. Focusing on the broader issues surrounding the subject, this book will be of interest to both the aviation community and those with an interest in economic and social development.

This book rigorously examines the air transport market liberalisation process on the African continent and presents key highlights, challenges, and impediments to embracing an “open skies” market environment in Africa. It focuses on the economic impact of air transport liberalisation, policy constraints, challenges of harmonisation, and regional economic integration and its impact on air transport development, employing a quantitative assessment based on the Air Transport Liberalisation Index (ALI) to evaluate how an open skies policy would change the competitive dynamics of air transport in Africa. Adopting a two-tier gravity model, the book explores how demand and route networks would be impacted by the deregulation of the air transport market. The book also applies a historical perspective by evaluating the initial ratification of the Yamoussoukro Declaration (1999), which acted as a catalyst for Africa’s 2063 regional agenda, focused on establishing the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM). The book also provides a comprehensive analysis of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), exploring its multifaceted impacts on Africa’s single market from economic, regulatory, and sustainability perspectives. This includes an introduction to the AfCFTA, highlighting its inception as a major step towards continental economic integration aimed at enhancing intra-African trade, promoting sustainable development, and fostering industrial diversification. It then examines the capacity and competency building of African aviation personnel. Training gaps and skills are extensively evaluated to ensure that the African region is prepared for the “new” competitive equilibrium post SAATM. The book also raises critical questions regarding the status of the African air transport market. Firstly, with the introduction of an open skies policy in Africa, will the national flag carriers be able to compete under the new market dynamics? Will the SAATM become a game changer in paving the way for the privatisation of some of Africa’s poor-performing airlines? Will the SAATM create a competitive market and a shift in airfares? How will policymakers deal with the excessive aviation taxes, fees and charges that make airfares in Africa the highest in the world? What will the economic benefits be for signatory states that embrace the SAATM? Will there be a significant growth trajectory in terms of air travel demand? This book is intended for researchers studying air transport economics in developing markets, graduate students with a primary focus on air transport development, senior policymakers and professionals at governmental agencies, and industry practitioners who want to expand their understanding of the dynamics shaping Africa’s air transport landscape.

This groundbreaking book offers a critical and wide-ranging assessment of the global air transport liberalization process over the past 40 years. This compilation of world experts on air transport economics, policy, and regulation is timely and significant, considering that air transport is currently facing a series of new challenges due to technological changes, the emergence of new markets, and increased security concerns.

Taking Stock of Air Liberalization is about Technology, Economy, and Policy (TEP) in the airline industry. Ten years ago, the practical collaboration was begun of bringing together people who belonged to the complementary streams of economic analysis and policy analysis presented int his book. During this time, we opened discussions on the relationship between transportation technology, transportation economics and transportation policy under the general auspices of the Canadian Royal Commission on National Passenger Transportation. Working over a 40-month period (1989-1992), this Commission took stock of transportation and produced an up-to-date `État de la question' and policy framework (Hyndman, et al, 1992). Clearly, the project committee's discussions on air policy, over the period 1995-1997 (see Chapter 8), outlined the possibilities for a mechanism to understand the differences about the desirability of air liberalisation, as well as the possible TEP interactions in this area. This led to an exploratory first formulation and computer programme (HLB, 1997) incorporating the approach outlined in Chapter 15. A joint celebration of the CRT's 25th birthday and Transport Canada's 60th birthday seemed appropriate to bring together the various streams. Part I of Taking Stock of Air Liberalization looks at the record, and Part II focuses on specific impacts of policies. Policy formulation (Part III) and the required tools (Part IV - Modelling Demand) are also discussed in this context. The book ends with perspectives in Part V - The Future Market Structure and Public Policy. The competition among airlines is rapidly spreading to the competition among airports, and the difficult regulation of these strategic spatial monopolies (which is introduced in Chapter 13) is now attracting research activity. The next discussion in the airline industry will be the role of airports.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the African air transport market from a strategic management perspective. Drawing on well-grounded theories, research applications and real-world case studies, it examines competition dynamics, interconnectivity, the growth of low-cost carriers, and demand patterns in air transport for both passenger and cargo traffic. It also presents an expert analysis on the introduction of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), made possible by the liberalization of the air transport market, from a regulatory perspective. Based on the results of the analysis, the book evaluates both the benefits and limitations of an open skies agreement. Furthermore, it shed lights on the challenges and complexities of African public infrastructure investments and airport financing, discusses the impact of COVID-19, and provides strategic recommendations for airlines. The book is aimed at professionals in aviation and airline industries and students interested in the African air transport market.

Drawing on literature concerning the environmental impact of aviation and welfare implications of airline deregulation over the past two decades, Schipper (public economics, U. of Economics, Ho Chi Minh City) addresses such issues as the relations between the economic costs of environmental degradation and output in air transport markets, and how accounting for these environmental costs affect the welfare analysis of deregulation in air transport markets. The environmental costs he analyzes are noise and emissions. c. Book News Inc.

In Africa, where poor roads, ports, and railways often constrain efficient transportation, air transport holds great potential as a lever for economic growth and development. Yet Africa has suffered several decades of inefficient air services. Uncompetitive flag carriers, set up by newly independent African states, offered primarily intercontinental flights, while the domestic air service market remained underdeveloped and underserved. The 1999 pan-African treaty on liberalization of access to air transport markets, the Yamoussoukro Decision, attempted to address these shortcomings. Yet a decade later, only partial liberalization has been achieved. 'Open Skies for Africa: Implementing the Yamoussoukro Decision' reviews progress made in carrying out the treaty and suggests ways in which the liberalization process can be encouraged. The book analyzes the completed and still-pending steps toward implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision, both on a pan-African level and within various regions. Special focus is given to the challenges posed by the poor aviation safety and security standards that exist in most African countries. Finally, the book measures the impact that certain policy steps of the Yamoussoukro Decision have had and evaluates the economic significance of air transportation and its full liberalization in Africa. The book concludes that the process of liberalizing African air services must continue, and provides policy recommendations for the way forward.

The last few decades have witnessed substantial liberalization trends in various industries and countries. Starting with the deregulation of the US airline industry in 1978, regulatory restructuring took place in further network industries such as telecommunications, electricity or railways in various countries around the world. Although most of the liberalization movements were initially triggered by the worrying performances of the respective regulatory frameworks, increases in competition and corresponding improvements in allocative and productive efficiency were typically associated with the respective liberalization efforts. From an academic perspective, the transition from regulated industries to liberalized industries has attracted a substantial amount of research reflected in many books and research articles which can be distilled to three main questions: (1) What are the forces that have given rise to regulatory reform? (2) What is the structure of the regulatory change which has occurred to date and is likely to occur in the immediate future? (3) What have been the effects on industry efficiency, prices and profits of the reforms which have occurred to date? Liberalization in Aviation brings together renowned academics and practitioners from around the world to address all three questions and draw policy conclusions. The book is divided into five sections, in turn dealing with aspects of competition in various liberalized markets, the emergence and growth of low-cost carriers, horizontal mergers and alliances, infrastructures, and concluding with economic assessments of liberalization steps so far and proposed steps in the future.