may2023 - 28

International
Africa's Opportunities
and Obstacles
How ground handlers across the continent can overcome challenges
and grow alongside airline operations.
BY MARIO PIEROBON
O
pportunities for the ground
handling sector abound all
across Africa, but at the same
time economic and political instability
in some African countries can
affect the growth prospects of the
ground handling sector.
According to Vees Lochan, chief operating
officer at Airlines Association of
Southern Africa (AASA), the African
continent offers opportunities for the
ground handling sector to grow alongside
airline operations.
" The potential for air travel in Africa
is huge. Presently Africa with 17 percent
of the world's population only contributes
about 2 percent of total global
travel. Air connectivity on the continent
can be vastly improved. The boom in air
travel in Africa is bound to materialize
and with it will result in opportunities
for the ground handling sector to
grow, " he says.
" The implementation of the Single
African Air Transport Market (SAATM)
will definitely lead to increased levels
of air traffic, but the primary obstacle
remains the limited connectivity
between most countries in Africa, "
Lochan continues. " Protectionism is
also another major obstacle because it
means that countries are prioritizing
state-owned airlines over national economies.
Countries need to be liberal in
their admission policies with respect
to air travelers, especially for fellow
Africans who should be encouraged to
travel visa-free within the continent. By
so doing, traffic increases and tourism
will prosper, the economy will grow,
jobs will be created - a win-win scenario
for all. "
Opportunities and Obstacles
Rising traffic and resultant demands for
more efficient and modern ground handling
services means real opportunities
lie in general aviation (GA) handling,
according to the UAS International Trip
Support Africa team.
" GA flight traffic is fast-growing and
becoming popular throughout the
African continent. It comes with its
own unique and complex requirements
especially when it comes to business/
VIP flights. Several countries in Africa
have recently undertaken major airport
development, prompted by an increase
in flight movements into the continent,
and this has presented an opportunity
for additional ground handling companies
and for existing ones to grow, " UAS
Africa team members say.
" New, large airport terminals recently
opened in Ethiopia and Tanzania, for
example, and opened for additional
ground handling companies, hence
creating competition and a reason for
the current handlers to upgrade their
services and quality of service delivery, "
they add. " The general increase and
projected increase in air traffic in Africa
has played a big part in growing the
ground handling business. "
Concerning the obstacles to the
growth of the ground handling sector,
the UAS Africa team believes that one
main obstacle is the stagnation of airRising
traffic and demands for more
efficient and modern ground handling
services means opportunities lie in
general aviation handling.
28 || Ground Support Worldwide || May 2023
port infrastructure.
" Many airports in Africa are small
with limited capacity for large aircraft
and this inhibits ground handlers from
UAS INTERNATIONAL TRIP SUPPORT
may2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of may2023
