Luanda, Dec. 2, 2025 (Lusa) - Angola's Transport Minister, Ricardo Viegas d'Abreu, defended the liberalisation of African airspace on Tuesday, stating that market fragmentation continues to penalise passengers and airlines.
Speaking at the closing of the 57th General Assembly of African Airlines (AFRAA) in Luanda, attended by 516 delegates from 49 countries, the minister insisted that the continent can no longer rely "solely on declarations of intent".
The minister stressed, within the framework of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), that the opening up of airspace is an "economic, operational and geopolitical imperative", reiterating Angola's commitment to its "progressive and responsible" implementation, accompanied by alignment between regulators, operators and infrastructure.
The minister also pointed out that the current market configuration results in "complex, expensive and limited" routes.
Ricardo Viegas d'Abreu also highlighted the need to transform African airlines' business models, stressing that pressure on the industry no longer allows for inaction.
"External circumstances such as fuel, costs, regulatory and tax pressures can no longer justify immobility," he said, advocating more efficient fleet management, financial discipline and a consistent strategic vision on the part of operators on the continent.
The minister also highlighted the new António Agostinho Neto International Airport as a central asset for Angola's civil aviation strategy, arguing that the infrastructure will "improve operational performance, increase capacity and project Luanda as a strategic hub between Africa, South America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia".
The transformation of the Angolan aviation sector, he said, is also based on the modernisation of TAAG, the renewal of the fleet and institutional strengthening.
"We continue to implement measures in line with the principle of open skies, ensuring predictability, legal certainty and transparency," he said.
In the area of regional partnerships, he highlighted the code-share agreement between TAAG and South African Airways, formalised during the meeting, presenting it as a structuring instrument to strengthen integration and improve regional mobility.
The agreement, he stressed, "is not symbolic," but rather a "public and business policy instrument that improves efficiency, increases options for passengers and positions Angola as a continental connection platform."
The interdependence of aviation with other economic sectors, from tourism to trade, industry, and regional mobility, was also highlighted, with the minister advocating an integrated approach to achieve results.
The minister reinforced the importance of facilitating mobility and reducing barriers, noting that "without passengers, there is no market; without mobility, there is no economic integration".
Another concern was the need for the industry to respond to the real characteristics of the African market, especially in West Africa, and to avoid importing inappropriate models.
According to Ricardo Viegas d'Abreu, Angola is aligned with a path of "transformation, rigour and strategic ambition", promising continuity in investment in human capital, technical capacity, process modernisation and regulatory reinforcement.
RCR/ADB // ADB.
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