18^th to 20^th March, 2024

Nairobi, Kenya

The Kenya Association of Air Operators (KAAO) is pleased to inform its members about the key takeaways from a recent workshop on the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) Regulatory Instruments. The 3-day workshop, held from March 18th to 20th, 2024, at the East African School of Aviation in Nairobi, Kenya, was organized by the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) and African Union Commission (AUC).

KAAO, along with several member airlines, participated in the informative sessions. Other prominent organizations represented at the workshop included the:

• International Air Transport Association (IATA)
• African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA)
• Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)
• Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
• Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA)
• Kenyan Ministry of Transport (MoT)
• Kenya Airways (KQ)
• Uganda Airlines.

Our CEO, Eng. Liz Aluvanze, was also in attendance alongside the KAAO Secretariat keenly identifying ways to sensitize the Association’s members.

Workshop Focuses on Empowering Airlines

The workshop served as a capacity-building exercise, aiming to raise awareness and understanding of the various regulatory instruments governing SAATM. Key documents covered included the Powers, Functions and Operations of the Executing Agency, Consumer Protection Regulations, Competition Regulations, Dispute Settlement Mechanism, and the revised African Civil Aviation Policy (AFCAP).

Participants gained valuable insights into their rights, obligations, and the potential opportunities presented by the SAATM environment. The workshop also explored the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) established to monitor SAATM implementation and encouraged collaboration among airlines to expand intra-African operations.

Enhanced Knowledge on SAATM Benefits

The workshop successfully achieved its intended outcomes:

• Increased understanding and appreciation of SAATM regulatory instruments among airline operators.
• Enhanced knowledge of the KPIs for implementing SAATM.
• Exchange of experiences and best practices from regional competition authorities and consumer protection associations regarding the YD/SAATM regulatory framework.
• Improved understanding of the progress and challenges associated with implementing SAATM, along with the KPIs for tracking its development.
• Greater awareness of the opportunities and overall benefits of liberalized African air transport through YD/SAATM.
• Promotion and advocacy for SAATM among stakeholders.
• Recognition of the importance of collaboration for achieving sustainable air transport growth in Africa through full implementation of YD/SAATM.
• Heightened awareness of the need for and advantages of a harmonized regulatory environment for YD implementation.

KAAO believes that the knowledge gained from this workshop will be instrumental in empowering its members to navigate the SAATM landscape effectively and capitalize on the exciting opportunities it presents for African air operators. The association remains committed to supporting its members in their endeavours to contribute to the growth and development of a vibrant and interconnected African air transport sector.