Kenya has recently made a significant move by waiving visa requirements for all foreigners, a decision praised as a bold step towards encouraging travel within Africa. President William Ruto announced this on December 12, 2023, with the waiver taking effect in January 2024. The intention behind this decision is to promote the free movement of people and facilitate business across the continent.
This visa waiver aligns with President Ruto’s call to other African leaders to remove barriers hindering free movement. Rwanda has also joined this initiative by dropping visa requirements for African travelers. While this move is expected to enhance intra-Africa connectivity and potentially reduce ticket prices, industry experts highlight persistent challenges.
According to Adikiny H. Olwenge, an air transport and aviation expert at the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa), removing visa requirements is just the beginning. The aviation sector still faces obstacles such as safety targets, Fifth Freedom controls, and taxes, which play a significant role in keeping ticket prices high.
Despite the positive step taken by Kenya and Rwanda, the larger challenge lies in harmonizing air navigation policies and addressing the high taxes and charges per airline. Prohibitive taxes, including passenger service charges, departure taxes, VAT, fuel levies, and transit fees, contribute significantly to the overall cost of air travel.
For example, a round-trip domestic flight from Nairobi to Mombasa costs $80 due to taxes, while the same duration flight from Nairobi to Entebbe, crossing a border, can cost around $400. The Africa Airlines Association (Afraa) reports varying regional passenger departure taxes, with Eastern Africa facing an average of $46.16.
While the removal of visa requirements is a positive step, experts emphasize the need for further reforms, similar to the successful liberalization seen in the telecommunication industry. Governments in the region are encouraged to lower charges to promote air travel and consider regional cooperation to eliminate excessive fees.
To achieve lower airfares, the aviation industry must also meet stringent industry standards known as the Abuja Safety Targets (AST). Airlines meeting these standards qualify for the International Air Travel Association Operator Safety Audit (Iosa) certification, allowing them to fly to lucrative destinations.
Despite the challenges, the recent steps taken by Kenya and Rwanda are seen as positive contributions to the long-term goal of affordable and accessible air travel within Africa. However, addressing safety concerns, harmonizing policies, and reducing taxes remain critical for achieving sustainable changes in the aviation sector.
