CAPE TOWN, Oct 14 -
Kamil Alawadhi, the International Air Transport Association’s Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, said market access and connectivity issues were delaying the recovery of southern Africa’s lucrative long-haul destinations, hampering foreign tourism and trade. The meeting takes place as company executives and airline agencies plot a recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic that devastated global passenger and cargo transport. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has also affected global fuel prices and led to shortages of jet fuel across Africa.
According to the African Airlines Association , data showed that by last month, African countries had resumed operations to 99.2% of routes operated before the pandemic.