The African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) has held a virtual validation workshop on a study examining aviation market competition in Africa, as part of the European Union-funded project supporting the operationalisation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM).
The workshop, held on 25 August 2026, reviewed the Study on Aviation Market Competition in Africa, which assesses the competitive landscape of the continent’s aviation sector and identifies challenges affecting the development of a more open market.
These include fragmented regulatory frameworks, restrictive market-access practices, high operating costs, market concentration, inadequate data and uneven institutional capacity.
Participants said effective liberalisation would need to be accompanied by appropriate competition safeguards. They also identified increasingly complex issues surrounding pricing, airline alliances, mergers, capacity and access to essential facilities.
The workshop highlighted the need for stronger cooperation between African States, civil aviation and competition authorities, Regional Economic Communities and industry stakeholders in dealing with these issues.
Participants also called for greater harmonisation of competition frameworks, stronger regulatory capacity, improved data sharing and market monitoring, enhanced consumer protection and effective compliance and dispute-resolution mechanisms.
AFCAC said the input received during the consultation would be used to refine the study report and its recommendations.
The Commission acknowledged the support of the European Union and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, together with Member States, regional institutions, industry stakeholders and development partners involved in the study and consultation process.
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