The African Union (AU) has launched its latest attempt at opening up the continent's skies and intra-regional connectivity. Signed during the 30th AU Summit at the bloc's headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on January 28, the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) aims to boost Africa's economic integration through the creation of a single unified air transport market.

The AU said in a statement SAATM aims to achieve its objectives through the immediate implementation of the 1999 Yamoussoukro Decision (YD) which, although endorsed by the AU Heads of State and Government Assembly in Lomé, Togo, in July 2000, has yet to be fully implemented by member states.

According to IATA, one of the main obstacles to the implementation of previous open skies pledges - the 1988 Yamoussoukro Declaration and 1999 Yamoussoukro Decision – has been the absence of an underpinning regulatory text. As such, the AU's adoption of the regulatory text of the Yamoussoukro Decision (YD) as the framework for SAATM will target previously neglected areas of competition, consumer protection, and dispute settlement all of which are critical to safeguarding the efficient operation of the single market.

The 1999 Yamoussoukro Decision provides for the full liberalisation of intra-African air transport services in terms of market access, the free exercise of First, Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth freedom traffic rights for scheduled and freight air services by eligible airlines. It removes restrictions on ownership and provides for the full liberalisation of frequencies, tariffs and capacity among member states. It also provides eligibility criteria for African community carriers, safety and security standards, mechanisms for fair competition and dispute settlement as well as consumer protection.

With the full implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision, the single market will evolve into a common aviation area, calling for the abolition of bilateral air service agreement between member states for intra-Africa traffic with airlines able to fly any intra-African routes determined by economic and financially-based considerations.

Although IATA's Vice President for Africa, Raphael Kuuchi, has hailed the treaty's signing, he warned its benefits would only be reaped if it is properly implemented by all 55 AU member states.

"We commend the 23 States that have signed up to SAATM. It is an important step forward," he said. "But the benefits of a connected continent will only be realized through effective implementation of SAATM — firstly by the countries already committed and also by the remaining 32 AU member nations still to come on board."

The 23 signatories of the Solemn Commitment to implement SAATM include Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Congo (Republic of), Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Togo, and Zimbabwe. Those states that have not signed, are urged to join, the AU said.