Kampala, August 26, 2024: Consumers of aviation services in Africa often lack protection against poor service delivery and are largely unaware of their rights. Even when they are aware, they frequently face institutional limitations, such as inadequate enforcement or access to information.
In response to this, a one-week regional training aimed at supporting the review of national laws, regulations, and policies concerning air transport consumer protection began on Monday, August 26, 2024, in Kampala, Uganda.
The event is organized by COMESA under the Support to Air Transport Sector Development (SATSD) programme funded by the European Union, in collaboration with the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC).
This training targets Consumer Protection Officers from countries in Eastern and Northern Africa, Member states the East African Community (EAC), Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and COMESA. It seeks to strengthen the understanding of air passenger rights under Article 9.6 of the Yamoussoukro Decision (YD) on Consumer Protection Regulations.
The YD, which seeks to liberalize Africa’s air transport market, laid the foundation for the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), a flagship initiative under the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
Eng. Nicholas Ndema, Aviation Expert at COMESA, addressed the delegates, highlighting the fact that many African states continue to protect their national carriers. This approach has stunted the growth of the continent’s air transport industry, even as new entrants, like low-cost carriers, seek to foster competition.
“This has ushered in competition in the air transport industry hence the need to ensure our regulations protect air passengers from “false” advertising, tarmac delays, baggage pilfering, and baggage loss,” Ndema said. “There is a need to give them access to information necessary to facilitate compensation when required.”
Ndema emphasized the need for harmonized consumer protection regulations across Africa, or a specialized set of rules focused on air transport consumer rights.
Mr. Fred Bamwesigye, Director General of the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority, stressed the importance of balancing consumer protection with the sustainability of the air transport industry. “Building consumer confidence in the aviation sector requires protecting their rights while ensuring the industry’s continued growth,” he said.
He added: “This workshop should therefore identify specific consumer issues that need prioritization, identify capacity gaps, share global best practices in consumer protection. Above all identify ways and means of implementing or “harmonizing” consumer protection policies, laws and regulations.”
Mr. Paul Christan Rwegasha, Principal Civil Aviation Officer at the East African Community, urged government authorities to create consumer protection laws that balance the interests of consumers with industry competitiveness. These laws must consider the diverse social, political, and economic contexts of African states while maintaining aviation safety and security.
Dr. Zacharia Kingori, IGAD’s Infrastructure Coordinator, outlined the benefits of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) for consumers. “Liberalization increases competition, leading to better services, lower prices, and more choices,” he noted. “However, it also requires robust protection of consumer rights related to flight cancellations, delays, and lost baggage.”