African aviation industry experts gathered at the ‘Air Finance for Africa’ conference in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia on 12-14 September 2011 to discuss the financial situation of the industry. It brought together more than 150 African and European experts to take stock of the industry’s present state and future.

The main topic was the unilateral EU safety list of airlines and its negative effect on financial performances. The so-called ‘black list’– drafted solely by the EU – includes many air carriers from Africa and is causing financial losses for African states, airlines, aircraft financiers and insurers. This topic dominated the conference agenda which saw input provided on the topic from both the EU and the African side, including from airlines and legal, finance and insurance firms affected. The EU Commission – with input from Member States – updates the list regularly. Those airlines that have managed to address their safety issues effectively, such as maintenance, may be removed from the list.

Adiron Alberto, Senior Policy Officer in the Air Transport, Transport and Tourism Division of the African Union Commission Department of Infrastructure and Energy, highlighted that since aviation is an industry of a global dimension, airline safety is a clear priority in Africa as well. However, he questioned the legality of the unilaterally established measures.

The conference concluded that the European Commission and the African Union Commission should implement a permanent mechanism of consultation on the operational ban of African airlines in European airspace. An AU-EU Statement on cooperation in aviation is currently under negotiation.

The financial performance of the African aviation industry, what influences it and how the performance can be improved were also on the conference agenda.

Organised by the African Aviation Magazine in collaboration with Ethiopian Airlines, the conference and exhibition saw more than 150 participants attending the conference, including representatives of regulators, airlines, airports, aircraft manufacturers and other aviation service providers.