African Open Skies to become effective Jan. 28
The long-awaited opening of the intra-African air transport market is slated to become a reality on Jan. 28, when the African Union signs off the final rule-making after a renewed push for liberalisation. The single African air transport market was meant to happen nearly two decades ago, following the adoption of the 1999 Yamoussoukro Decision. After years of false starts, the AU started a fresh push to open the market in January 2015, but the deadline was also missed because of a legal technicality. “The legal department told us that it hadn’t been approved the way we thought. Instead of getting the approval, it was just noted. The difference between ‘noted’ and ‘approved’ cost us almost two years. Then the AU changed its processes, so it was like going back to square one,” said Iyabo Sosina, who heads up AFCAC—the body responsible for making African Open Skies happen. The SAATM is finally expected to go live Jan. 28, when the AU heads of state sign off the consumer protection and competition rules for the liberalized market at the AU Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.<br/>
https://portal.staralliance.com/imagelibrary/news/hot-topics/2018-01-26/general/african-open-skies-to-become-effective-jan-28
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African Open Skies to become effective Jan. 28
The long-awaited opening of the intra-African air transport market is slated to become a reality on Jan. 28, when the African Union signs off the final rule-making after a renewed push for liberalisation. The single African air transport market was meant to happen nearly two decades ago, following the adoption of the 1999 Yamoussoukro Decision. After years of false starts, the AU started a fresh push to open the market in January 2015, but the deadline was also missed because of a legal technicality. “The legal department told us that it hadn’t been approved the way we thought. Instead of getting the approval, it was just noted. The difference between ‘noted’ and ‘approved’ cost us almost two years. Then the AU changed its processes, so it was like going back to square one,” said Iyabo Sosina, who heads up AFCAC—the body responsible for making African Open Skies happen. The SAATM is finally expected to go live Jan. 28, when the AU heads of state sign off the consumer protection and competition rules for the liberalized market at the AU Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.<br/>
