Air travel in Africa can be a complicated affair, but with the continent's current spurt in economic growth has come a push to improve aviation links - and Gabon is no exception. The country has seen international carriers strengthening their presence and passenger numbers on the rise, and two new airline ventures are beginning to take shape, although it may be some time before flights commence.
Flights in Africa follow a hub-and-spoke system centred around Cairo, Johannesburg and Nairobi, but like many Central African economies, Gabon is keen to establish itself as an aviation hub and play a key part in regional integration efforts. While the country is benefiting from improved indicators, to achieve that goal will required additional improvements in the overall operating environment.
Passenger numbers on the upOverall traffic through Gabon's main airport, the Léon M'ba International Airport in Libreville, increased 7.36% year-on-year (y-o-y) in 2012, with passenger numbers reaching 830,376. This marks an acceleration in growth, with passenger volumes having increased by 15% between 2009 and 2012.
International arrivals totalled 417,045, up 13.29% y-o-y. Significantly, the number of passengers from the six member states of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (Communauté Économique et Monétaire de l'Afrique Centrale, CEMAC) reached 81,625, marking a rise of 17.82% on the previous year's figures. While CEMAC traffic still represents a relatively small percentage of business, accounting for 10% of traffic in 2012, recent growth levels, combined with plans to strengthen regional integration during the next two years, suggests the segment offers select prospects for development.
International arrivals are expected to edge higher this year, as the number of routes offered increases.
Lufthansa has recently announced plans to withdraw its service to Libreville by the end of the year, but Turkish Airlines introduced three flights per week between Istanbul and Libreville when it entered the market in February, while Air France expanded its operations the following month by launching a daily service between Paris and Libreville.
Boosting local participationForeign carriers, such as Air France, Royal Air Maroc (RAM) and South African Airways, continue to command all international traffic, but Gabon, along with other CEMAC members, is working to carve out a position for local companies.
Their efforts include a bid to establish a regional airline, Air CEMAC, although the project, which dates back more than a decade, has hit a number of stumbling blocks over the years, including competition in the form of separate national carrier ventures.
However, new developments, including the establishment of a headquarters in Brazzaville and the appointment of Gabonese national, Étienne Robin Mintsa Mi Owono, as board chairman, suggest the initiative is now gathering pace.
According to media reports, Air France will hold a stake of up to 34% in the joint venture, while assuming the role of technical partner. Project representatives hope that Air CEMAC will launch its first flight in 2014, although much of the venture, including equipment acquisition and staffing, has yet to be finalised.
In September, the local media also reported that Gabon and RAM were resurrecting a long-standing agreement to launch a new national airline, Air Gabon International. The previous national air carrier, Gabon Airlines, ceased operating in May 2011, having declared bankruptcy.
Safety firstWhile the launch of a national or regional airline is important for future growth, in the short term, Gabon remains focused on bringing local safety regulations in line with international standards.
Following an audit by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in 2007, authorities closed the Secrétariat Général à l'Aviation Civile et Commerciale and set up the National Civil Aviation Agency (Agence Nationale de l'Aviation Civile), which is operationally independent, as recommended by the ICAO. Oversight improved and some local aviation operators had their air transport certificates revoked.
A second audit by the ICAO in mid-2012 showed that Gabon's non-compliance rate had improved from 93% in 2007 to 81%, but this is still some way off the global standard of below 50%. Officials have said the country is working to bring Gabon's score closer to the ICAO's targets. However, much work remains to be done.
In the meantime, initiatives aimed at increasing integration across Central Africa, such as plans to allow CEMAC nationals to enter other member states without visas from 2014, should help boost regional traffic and present further opportunities for carriers.
© Oxford Business Group 2013
