African airlines look to consolidation to take back control of their continent’s airspace

African airlines are calling for greater unity among themselves to better compete against much bigger foreign airlines in their own skies and for African governments to liberalise the continent’s air space.

Kenya Airways believes a merger between itself, Ethiopian Airlines and South African Airways is necessary to create a single large carrier representing Africa so they can compete globally. And Africa’s numerous regional airlines are looking to these three big carriers to support their growth and improve the industry’s safety performance on the continent.

But first, protective governments need to be persuaded of the benefits of open skies, while smaller carriers fear for their futures if big carriers are given greater freedoms.