Africa’s push to build a Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) will only deliver for trade, tourism and investment if the airspace above it is managed efficiently, stakeholders say.
During the the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) Africa Conference 2026 held in Mid- October in Nairobi, air navigation service providers, regulators and airlines noted that top agenda is to agree which air traffic management reforms and investments to prioritise first, and to move from policy commitments to delivery.
Stakeholders underscored, or so it seems, the need for more efficient airspace management to ensure reliable airline schedules, faster movement of people and high-value cargo, stronger tourism and trade links, and the continent’s ability to capture more value from an integrating continental market.
“Africa doesn’t need more vision documents, it needs clear priorities and a realistic path to deliver them,” said Thabani Myeza, CANSO Director Africa Affairs.
Myeza said countries must now prioritise essential air traffic management (ATM) capabilities, coordinate investments, deepen operational cooperation and keep modernisation in step with demand.
He notes the conference is “about agreeing on those priorities together and making sure our skies are ready to support the growth SAATM will bring.”
Andrea Sack, CANSO Senior Vice President Global Operations, said the transformation is likely to work when it is practical, collaborative and driven by the region itself.
“Nairobi gives us the chance to connect Africa’s priorities with global initiatives and to make sure no one is left behind as we modernise,” said Sack.
Dr. Serah Waitiki, Director of the East African School of Aviation, said that investment must extend beyond technology and infrastructure to the workforce.
“As air traffic grows and aviation evolves, we must strengthen training, develop the next generation of aviation professionals and equip our workforce with the competencies needed to deliver safe, efficient and resilient air navigation services. Regional collaboration will be critical to building this capacity and ensuring Africa is ready for the future of aviation,” said Dr. Waitiki.
The three-day conference, running 13–15 October at the Argyle Grand Hotel Nairobi Airport, is held under the theme “Practical Implementation Pathways – ATM Transformation and the ANSP Changing Landscape.” It comes as countries advance the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), the African Union initiative to liberalise air transport and strengthen connectivity between African markets.
Progress, the organisers say, will depend on agreeing common priorities, coordinating investments and strengthening the ability of neighbouring countries to share operational information and manage traffic across borders.
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