The Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), Africa’s flagship aviation liberalisation initiative, continues to gather pace as more countries sign on to create a fully connected, open airspace. According to the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), 38 African Union (AU) member states have now signed the SAATM Solemn Commitment, with 26 pledging unconditional liberalisation of their air markets.
Recent additions – Angola, São Tomé & Príncipe, and Malawi have pushed the initiative closer to its goal of continent-wide adoption. Progress on route expansion is also accelerating, with over 108 intra-African routes launched, including 19 Fifth Freedom routes. Fifth Freedom traffic capacity has climbed from 15% in 2018 to 23% in 2024, with forecasts suggesting it could reach 30% by 2027.
These gains are reshaping connectivity across Africa, giving airlines and passengers new opportunities for efficient travel and trade.
Regulatory Alignment and Governance
AFCAC reports significant progress in aligning bilateral air service agreements (BASAs) with the Yamoussoukro Decision (YD) provisions on liberalisation. Between 2022 and 2024, more than 60 BASAs were aligned, with five new agreements initiated during the YD anniversary in Brazzaville last November.
The Dispute Settlement Mechanism (DSM) Secretariat, operational since October 2023, has also begun playing a central role. Its Administrative Council was inaugurated in June 2025, enhancing governance and oversight for disputes related to market access and designation issues.
Oversight and Safety Improvements
Six states have undergone audits using SAATM key performance indicators, with corrective action plans already implemented. Africa’s safety and security performance continues to improve, with the ICAO audit effective implementation score rising to 61.15% in 2024, up from 59.33% a year earlier. Aviation security oversight also strengthened, climbing from 60.45% to 64.59% in the same period.
Advocacy and Awareness
AFCAC has stepped up advocacy efforts through 10 SAATM airshows across the continent, aimed at promoting liberalised skies and resolving longstanding authorisation and designation barriers. Disputes between countries including Gabon, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, South Africa, and Madagascar have seen progress toward resolution.
SAATM’s progress has been strongly supported by international and regional partners such as the African Development Bank (AfDB), UNECA, the European Union (EU), and the World Bank.
Beyond aviation, SAATM is seen as a strategic driver of Africa’s economic transformation, regional integration, and social development. By unlocking air connectivity, it promises to catalyse tourism, trade, investment, and job creation across the continent.
“SAATM is not just a policy — it is Africa’s strategic route to economic transformation, mobility, and continental unity,” AFCAC emphasised.
The Road Ahead
AFCAC has issued a call to action to accelerate implementation by:
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Elevating aviation as a national development priority.
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Removing remaining market restrictions at national and regional levels.
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Strengthening harmonised safety and security standards.
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Rationalising taxes, charges, and fees across the continent.
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Enhancing cross-ministerial collaboration in aviation, finance, tourism, trade, customs, and immigration.
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Promoting stronger regional airline partnerships.
With momentum building, the challenge now lies in sustaining political will and translating commitments into action. If fully realised, SAATM could transform Africa’s skies into a seamless, unified market and by extension, accelerate the continent’s economic and social integration.
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