Cameroon joins the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM)
Cameroon has officially signed its commitment to join the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM). The announcement was made Tuesday January 22, 2019 by the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC).
Of the 44 members adhering to the Yamoussoukro Decision, Cameroon becomes the 28th African state to solemnly commit to join SAATM.
As flagship project of the African Union Agenda 2063, the Single African Air Transport Market is the result of the immediate application of the principles of the Yamoussoukro Decision adopted in 1999 and approved by the Assembly of Heads of State and AU Government in Lomé (Togo) in July 2000.
This decision provides for full liberalization of air transport services within the African continent, free market access, full rights of first, second, third, fourth and fifth freedoms for scheduled air services and freight for qualified airline companies.
It removes the restriction on ownership in the sector and provides for the complete liberalization of flights, tariffs and cabotage. It also proposes eligibility criteria for African Community carriers, safety and security standards, fair competition mechanisms, dispute settlement and better consumer protection. The granting of 5th freedom traffic rights is important for the development of the intra-African market. These flight program fees allow a qualified African carrier to fly between two other African countries from his country or to complete his flight in his country.
The new intra-African traffic will allow airlines to fly inside the African continent according to the new economic and financial standards of the market.
Other signatory states include: Benin, Burkina Faso, Botswana, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia , Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Swaziland, Chad, Togo and Zimbabwe.
