Zambia moves to modernise Bilateral Air Services Agreements, cites regional challenges—Tayali

Zambia is working to modernise its Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASAs) to align with new international aviation standards, Minister of Transport and Logistics Frank Tayali has said.

Speaking in Lusaka on Monday when African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) Secretary-General, Adefunke Adeyemi, paid a courtesy call on him, Tayali said government remained committed to enhancing the aviation industry and making it more competitive on the continent.

He noted, however, that Zambia, as a member of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), continued to face challenges in updating these agreements due to protectionist tendencies by some African countries.

“Instead of African countries buying into the idea, some of them are being protectionist,” he said, urging AFCAC to help champion the cause.

Earlier, Adeyemi said her delegation was in the country to advance the SAATM agenda, which seeks to promote the free movement of African airlines across the continent.

She explained that the AFCAC team was in Zambia as part of a coalition engaging stakeholders on the SAATM Pilot Implementation Project, in which Zambia is a participant.

The coalition included the African Union, African Airlines Association, Airlines Association of Southern Africa, Airports Council International, and AFCAC.

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