Zambia pushes for liberalized air transport market to boost regional connectivity

Zambia has initiated dialogues with countries including South Africa, Botswana, Angola, Tanzania, Burundi, and Kenya to incorporate provisions that promote liberalized market access, fair competition, and mutual growth, authorities have said.

Minister of Transport and Logistics, Frank Tayali, said Zambia was actively engaging its neighbouring countries and key regional partners to modernize Bilateral Air Services Agreements in line with the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) standards.

Tayali said this during the African Council of International Airports (ACI) Conference, held under the theme “Powering African Airports for Strategic Growth,” The speech was read on his behalf by Ministry Director for Transport, Nkumbu Siame, in Lusaka on Wednesday.

The minister stated that the ongoing efforts aimed to remove historical restrictions that limit connectivity.

“We fully support a vision of Africa where African airlines dominate African skies, passengers can travel directly between African capitals without detours through Europe or Asia, and secondary cities are connected efficiently,” he said.

Tayali emphasized that enhancing connectivity required investment not only in terminals and runways but also in navigation systems, cargo handling, ground services, regional partnerships, and suitable aircraft equipment.

He added that the commissioning of Kenneth Kaunda International Airport Terminal 2 in Lusaka, the Greenfield Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport in Ndola, and upgrades to provincial airports had laid the physical foundation for a more interconnected Africa.

“Unfortunately, intra-Africa air connectivity remains underdeveloped. Currently, it is easier to fly from Lusaka to London than to Bangui or Bissau. This must change. Interconnectivity is not a luxury – it is a necessity,” Tayali stressed.

Meanwhile, ACI Secretary-General, Ali Tounsi, highlighted the African Airports Development Program, noting that more than 2,500 professionals had benefited from over 200 training sessions, one-third of which were offered free to ensure accessibility.

He said sustainable development initiatives and the SACOS digital platform, piloted in Zambia, were modernizing safety oversight and preparing African airports for a net-zero future.

Similarly, former ACI President, Emanuel Chaves, who is also Chairperson of Mozambique’s Civil Aviation Institute, congratulated the newly elected President of ACI Africa, Fabrice Grondin of La Réunion, praising his vision and leadership.

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