A new resolve for ‘African Aviation’ in Marrakesh 

The 2022 Airports Council International Africa / World Annual General Assembly, Conference and Exhibition (WAGA) held in Marrakesh, Morocco from 22 to 28 October. The theme was: “Sky’s the Limit: Discovering opportunities within change”. The conference came up with resolutions, initiatives as well as food for thought for African aviation. ACI is the voice of the world’s airports and yours truly was at this global gathering of airports.(https://www.internationalairportreview.com/news/180231/the-skys-the-limit-at-aci-waga-2022-in-marrakech/).

Luis Felipe Oliviera, ACI World director general, stated: “It is a pleasure to be able to reconnect here in beautiful Marrakesh and in Africa, a region that holds great potential for air travel growth, with 18 percent of the global population but with only 2.5% of global passenger traffic.” Some discussants stated that only about 15% of the African continent is connected by air and only about 10 percent of the African population fly. So, this is a growth market that is not living up to its potential. A speaker believed “amazing things would happen” when African countries open up their borders to one another.

Workforce challenges also came under the spotlight. Discussants believed that managers needed to be more in the shoes of fellow workers to understand what others do for their jobs. So, there is a need to work together as an industry to attract and retain the next generation of airport workers, as well as make it an attractive place to work.  (https://www.internationalairportreview.com/video/180489/international-airport-reviews-key-takeaways-from-aci-waga-2022/).

There was also the launch of the Public Health and Safety Readiness Accreditation for Airports. This is a programme that continues from the Airport Health Accreditation Programme where nearly 500 airports participated during the pandemic. The aim of the accreditation is to give support to the global airport community as they look ahead over the long term to be fully equipped to face uncertainty. (https://aci.aero/2022/10/24/most-important-global-gathering-of-airport-leaders-begins-in-marrakech/). 

As is usual with the Assembly every year, some resolutions on key priorities for airports that reflect the concerns and interests of ACI members were considered. (https://aci.aero/2022/10/25/waga-2022-agrees-key-resolutions-to-strengthen-and-promote-the-sustainability-and-resilience-of-airports).

Resolution Delivering the Long–Term aspirational Goal calls on governments to support the global transition from the electrical grid, update the regulatory framework to accommodate the integration of alternative fuel sources at airports and incentivise infrastructural development with appropriate financial mechanisms.

Resolution Restoring Economic Equilibrium calls on governments to acknowledge the changed risk profile of airports in some jurisdictions as a result of the pandemic, as well as provide regulatory support towards restoring economic equilibrium for unrecovered costs, which will be either as financial compensation or through future airport charges.

Resolution Support and assistance for small, emerging and regional airports calls on governments and industry to support the capital and human resources development plans of these airports and facilitate their transition to renewable energy. These airports play an important role within global connectivity as well as socio-economic development of communities worldwide.

Resolution Creating a strong and diverse airport workforce appeals to airports, regulators and even ACI to take collective actions to re-establish the overall employer brand and attractiveness of the aviation sector for its short-, medium-, and long-term sustainability. It encourages all stakeholders to support the recruitment and retention of an aviation workforce to meet current and future demand. (https://www.passengerterminaltoday.com/news/regulation-policy/aci-agrees-on-resolutions-to-strengthen-airport-sustainability-and-resilience.html).

The ACI director general stated further: “Being here in person with a range of stakeholders provides the sense of community to build a more sustainable and resilient future together as one aviation ecosystem.” This is food for thought for African aviation and it is hoped that building together will increase our bargaining power in the marketplace.

The words of Ali Tounsi, the general secretary of ACI, is instructive in this regard: “WAGA 2022 in Marrakesh is an ideal opportunity for African airports to discuss current challenges, identify a common vision and move forward together with confidence and pragmatism.” 

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