Why flying outside Africa is easier on your pocket
What you need to know:
- Speaking to the Nation on a phone, association secretary general Elijah Chingosho said the prohibitive fuel prices in some countries also contributes to the sky high costs.
About 40 per cent of the regional air transport fares comprises government taxes and other airport charges, making flying outside the continent much cheaper than within the bloc, a regional assembly said.
The East African Legislative Assembly (Eala), consequently urged regional governments to step up measures to bring down the cost of flying to ease doing business in the bloc.
Speaking during a sitting, Ms Shy-Rose Bhanji noted that several efforts have been made to enhance competition within the aviation sector in the region.
“The ongoing effort on the liberalisation of air transport services in the EAC region is an important step towards the minimisation of flight costs through increased competition,” she said.
However, according to the African Airlines Association (Afraa), several factors are crippling the aviation sector and the continent as a whole.
Speaking to the Nation on a phone, association secretary general Elijah Chingosho said the prohibitive fuel prices in some countries also contributes to the sky high costs.
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
“In some African countries, fuel prices are twice as high as the average world prices,” he said.
Mr Chingosho said airport charges in the region account for between Sh3,480 and Sh4,350 ($40 to $50) excluding taxes.
“Some African governments are still charging VAT on the import of spares for the carriers; this is impacting negatively on the airlines, which aid international trade,” he said.
The council of ministers called on the EAC member states to conclude consultations and complete the regulations and framework for liberalisation by the end of this year.
