•Says 80% of crash probes lack final reports
By Chinelo Obogo
From the International Air Transport Association (IATA) comes a damning report that Africa’s aviation sector is lagging behind global safety benchmarks as 46 out of 48 Sub-Saharan nations have failed to meet international safety implementation targets.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the global aviation body said that while safety performance on the continent has seen some improvement, the effective implementation rate of the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPS) is at 59.49% which is far below the global average of 69.16% and the 75% target. IATA urged African governments to take immediate action to close this gap.
IATA further revealed that in 2024, runway excursions which are incidents where aircraft veer off or overrun the runway, were the most recorded accidents in Africa which accounted for most of the 10 reported accidents this year. IATA then called for ICAO’s Runway Safety Team missions to be urgently deployed across African airports to improve performance, alongside stricter enforcement of SARPS.
A major issue which IATA highlighted in its report is the delay in releasing accident investigation reports, revealing that out of the 42 air accidents recorded in Africa between 2018 and 2023, only eight final reports have been published, which means that the reports of 80% of cases are yet to be published.
IATA said it is important for African nations to comply with ICAO Annex 13, which mandates timely and transparent accident reporting. The association also referred to its IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) and IATA Standard Safety Assessment (ISSA), saying they are critical tools to enhance airline safety and regulatory oversight.
On the issue of taxes, the aviation body said aviation taxes and charges in Africa are 15% higher than the global average, which it said is stifling demand and economic growth. “Governments must understand that aviation’s greatest value is catalytic, it drives trade, tourism, and job creation. Excessive taxation doesn’t just hurt airlines; it stifles economic and social development,” IATA said.
IATA also commented on the issue of blocked funds, stating that $1 billion in airline revenue is currently blocked from repatriation by African governments which represents a staggering 73% of all blocked funds worldwide. The body said these funds are trapped across 26 African nations and has forced airlines to cut flights or abandon routes entirely. IATA warned that this directly threatens Africa’s international air connectivity and violates international treaties and bilateral agreements.
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