Kenyan Aviation Expert Urges Visa-Free Africa and Open Skies at IATA Conference
A prominent voice within East African aviation has delivered a powerful message to continental policymakers, urging transformative reforms that could reshape how Africans travel across their own continent. Charles Gakuu, Managing Director of the Air Travel and Related Studies Centre based in Nairobi, addressed delegates at the IATA Focus Africa Conference currently underway in Addis Ababa, calling for visa-free movement and liberalised airspace as essential building blocks for tourism growth.
For travel professionals operating across sub-Saharan Africa, the points raised by Gakuu resonate deeply with long-standing industry frustrations. Despite sharing borders and cultural ties, African citizens frequently face cumbersome visa requirements when travelling to neighbouring countries, creating barriers that discourage both leisure tourism and business travel. This fragmented approach stands in stark contrast to regions such as Europe, where the Schengen Area allows seamless movement across multiple nations.
Gakuu did not mince words when addressing this challenge. He argued that requiring visas to visit neighbouring African countries simply does not make sense in a modern context where regional integration should be a priority. The European model, he suggested, offers a template worth studying and adapting to African realities. Such reforms would not only benefit individual travellers but could fundamentally alter the economics of African tourism by making multi-destination itineraries far more practical and appealing.
Equally important, according to the Kenyan expert, is the need to open African skies to greater competition and connectivity. The Single African Air Transport Market, established under the African Union framework, has long promised to liberalise aviation across the continent, yet implementation remains uneven. Gakuu emphasised that without genuine commitment to airspace liberalisation, Africa will continue to lag behind other regions in terms of flight options, pricing competitiveness, and overall accessibility.
The conference setting in Addis Ababa proved particularly fitting for such discussions. Ethiopian Airlines has emerged as arguably the most successful carrier on the continent, demonstrating what African aviation can achieve with proper investment and strategic vision. Gakuu praised the airline's extensive global network, noting routes connecting Addis Ababa to destinations including São Paulo, Chicago, Washington and Milan. Such connectivity positions Ethiopia as a genuine hub for transcontinental travel, offering African passengers convenient access to the Americas, Europe and beyond.
The expert also highlighted personal experience to illustrate improving regional links. A recent direct flight from Mombasa to Addis Ababa on Ethiopian Airlines represented a connection that simply did not exist in previous years. For Kenyan travellers and the tourism businesses serving them, such routes create fresh opportunities to explore neighbouring destinations and develop new product offerings.
Beyond aviation, Gakuu commended Ethiopia for its broader hospitality investments. Ethiopian Airlines has diversified into the hotel sector, developing quality accommodation options for transit passengers. This integrated approach generates additional revenue streams while enhancing the overall passenger experience, a strategy that other African carriers might consider emulating.
The transformation of Addis Ababa itself drew particular praise. Having first visited the Ethiopian capital in the early 1990s, Gakuu expressed genuine admiration for the city's development over three decades, noting modern infrastructure including electric rail transport and expanded road networks. The emergence of international hotel brands further signals Ethiopia's growing appeal as both a destination and a transit hub.
Significantly, Kenya currently enjoys visa-free access to Ethiopia, a privilege Gakuu highlighted as an example of positive regional cooperation. His arrival experience, processed within five minutes with no additional questions, demonstrates what efficient border management can look like when political will exists.
For African travel businesses watching these developments, the message is clear. The future prosperity of continental tourism depends heavily on removing artificial barriers that currently constrain movement. Those nations and carriers willing to embrace openness and connectivity will likely capture the greatest share of growth in the years ahead.
