Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 29 January 2018:His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda and also the Chairperson of African Union (AU) has launched the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) in the event that took place on the sidelines of the 30th AU Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Other African Countries’ Heads of States, the Chairperson of African Union Commission (AUC), Moussa Faki Mahamat and Togo President, Faure Gnassingbé also officiated the inauguration of the project.

Speaking at the official launch, President Paul Kagame, Chairperson of the African Union, noted that the implementation of the agreement also supports plans for a pan-African passport and free movement of people and goods, and the creation of a continental free-trade area - both objectives.

"Today we launch the Single African Air Transport Market, a major step forward for transportation. We are nearly ready to adopt the Continental Free Trade Area. It needs to be done this year," President Kagame said. President Kagame told Africa's leaders that "by committing to break down these various barriers, we will send a tremendous signal in Africa and beyond that it is no longer business as usual."

SAATM is an initiative of the African Union to create a single unified air transport market in Africa, the liberalization of civil aviation in Africa and as an impetus to the Continent’s economic integration agenda.

Effective this season, eligible airlines of the 23 countries that have adhered to the Solemn Commitment are entitled to conduct their business into the markets and fully operate the traffic rights provided for in the Yamoussoukro Decision. These countries include Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Togo and Zimbabwe.

The participating SAATM countries account for more than half of the continent's population, two-thirds of its GDP, and more than 80 percent of intra-African air travel.

The remaining African states were appealed to join and help in the realisation of the far-sighted vision of a Single African Air Transport Market that will help spur the development of African aviation.

The African Union says the single-market initiative is a flagship project of its Agenda 2063 goal for boosting African economies and opportunity, and the formal launch follows a ministerial working group meeting in December last year. The AU hopes other nations will come aboard as their infrastructure and regulatory capacity aligns with the SAATM agreement. It's meant to work much like the European system does to ensure that airlines from any participating country can fly to airports in any other SAATM country.

The launch of the single air market follows closely on moves by several African countries to relax visa rules for African nationals. In addition, liberalized airline routes on the continent will likely result in a boost to intra-African tourism.