Air transport

Air transport in Africa presents a rather disappointing picture. Air connectivity in Africa is substantially weaker than other regions of the world and Africa accounts for only 3% of global traffic., However, its future appears to be bright with the Single African Air Transport Market (MUTAA) launched and set up on January 28, 2018 as the first flagship project of the African Union (AU) Agenda 2063, in order to accelerate the full implementation of the Yamoussoukro Declaration of 1988, replaced by the Yamoussoukro Decision (DY) from 1999.

However, it would be utopian to want a significant development of air traffic on the continent, if one continues to disregard the interests of African air passengers. Therefore, the issue of protecting the interests of African consumers of air transport services is of crucial importance. The UAC welcomes that the MUTAA has provided for a consumer protection regulation that covers the rights of consumers of air transport services in Africa, protection against unfair treatment in the provision of services and offers a system of compensation to passenger’s victims of non-respect of their rights by the service providers of the aviation sector. It prohibits unfair, deceptive and discriminatory practices. It also requires service providers to provide adequate third party damage insurance, provide passenger information and compensate passengers for delayed flights, cancellation, denied boarding, downgrading and change of flight. 'Itinerary, as the case may be. The interest of our positioning in this sector is therefore to want to contribute to the operationalization of this regulation at regional and national level in order to ensure effective protection of African consumers.