The Single African Air Transport Market: Is This the Future?

Launched in 2018 as a flagship project of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) represents the continent’s most ambitious attempt to revolutionise air travel by creating a unified African airspace through liberalisation of routes, pricing, and capacity. 

SAATM will ensure aviation plays a major role in connecting Africa, promoting its social, economic and political integration and boosting intra-Africa trade and tourism, according to IATA’s official assessment of the initiative.

Managed by African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), the SAATM initiative builds upon the 1999 Yamoussoukro Decision, which aimed to liberalise African skies but faced implementation challenges for nearly two decades. 

The goal of the SAATM is to fully implement the 1999 Yamoussoukro Decision. This means that all participants agree to lift market access restrictions for airlines, remove restrictions on ownership, grant each other extended air traffic rights, as outlined in the project’s framework.

Tracking SAATM’s Implementation Journey

Progress has been encouraging, though implementation remains uneven across the continent. 38 African States have so far committed to SAATM so far, the latest being Malawi. Progress on route expansion is visible, with more than 108 intra-African routes launched, 19 of which are fifth freedom routes. 

Fifth freedom capacity, or a fifth freedom right, is the privilege granted by one country to an airline of another country to carry revenue-generating passengers or cargo between two foreign countries on a flight that either originates from or terminates in the airline’s home country. In 2018, Fifth Freedom traffic capacity was at 15% (2018). Fast forward to 2024, it’s at 23%, and is projected to reach 30% by 2027.

This indicates a strong political will among African nations to participate in the initiative. The African Union emphasizes that the operationalisation of the market will bring significant economic benefits, including lower airfares, increased flight options, and expanded air cargo services. 

Outside of the Single African Air Transport Market initiative, different airlines have also made partnerships geared toward the same goals that SAATM is trying to accomplish. Notable partnerships include Kenya Airways and South African Airways forming a strategic framework in 2021 to create a pan-African airline group whose aim is to increase passenger and cargo traffic and deepen economic integration across the continent

Not too long ago (July 28, 2025), Kenya Airways and Air Tanzania also signed a major Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen East African aviation. 

In West Africa, Emirates and Air Peace partnered to improve connections for travelers between Dubai and Nigeria. Travelers from the UAE can now enjoy seamless connections to 13 Nigerian cities on a single ticket, eliminating the hassle of multiple bookings and check-ins.Back in 2020, Moroccan national carrier, Royal Air Maroc, joined the oneworld alliance in 2020, becoming its first full African member. The airline’s membership in the global alliance expanded oneworld’s network by adding numerous new destinations in Africa and providing benefits for its frequent flyers across the alliance’s global reach.

SAATM’s Transformative Potential for Africa

An IATA study suggests opening just 12 markets alone could generate an additional $1.3 billion in GDP and 155,000 jobs. A pilot project involving 15 countries forecasts a $4.2 billion GDP boost, 596,000 jobs, and a 27% fare reduction.

However, implementation challenges persist, with some regions advancing more rapidly than others due to varying levels of infrastructure development and regulatory readiness. 

The AUDA-NEPAD assessment also reveals that the SAATM has made less progress in infrastructure planning and development to accommodate future air traffic growth. 

While some regions have advanced significantly, others lag due to funding gaps, lack of continental master plan, and uneven political commitment to the necessary reforms.

Despite these challenges, IATA remains optimistic about the Single African Air Transport Market initiative’s potential, saying  it represents a critical pathway to achieving the connectivity and cost reductions that African aviation desperately needs.