The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has urged South Africas new Government of National Unity to continue prioritising the development of its aviation sector as a critical driver for economic growth and job creation.
South Africas aviation industry is poised for significant growth over the next 20 years, adding 345 million additional passenger journeys by 2043. With aviation generating $6 in economic activity for every $1 spent, this expansion will inject billions into South Africas GDP and create thousands of new jobs.
It is important for the new government to keep this as a strategic focus. The economic and social benefits of aviation will be maximised with a sharp policy focus on keeping costs low, providing sufficient capacity to grow, monitoring the cost-effectiveness of regulations, and achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050,' said Kamil Al-Awadhi ,IATAs Regional Vice-President for Africa and the Middle East.
Priorities to strengthen South Africas aviation industry are being addressed at IATAs Wings of Change Focus Africa Conference currently underway in Johannesburg. The conference has brought industry leaders and representatives of governments and aviation safety and training entities together, with the purpose of identifying concrete actions to strengthen aviation in Africa and optimise it for broader sustained economic growth.
Specifically, IATA urged the new government to focus on:
