STATEMENT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ANTANANARIVO DECLARATION

Accra, , 30 March 2017

Participants to the Second ICAO Meeting on the Sustainable Development of Air Transport in , held in , Ghana, from 28 to 31 March 2017, reviewed progress towards the implementation of the Declaration on the Sustainable Development of Air Transport in Africa, adopted in Antananarivo, , on 27 March 2015 (the “Antananarivo Declaration” ; available at : http://www.icao.int/meetings/SUSDEV-AT/Pages/default.aspx). The following areas have been identified as requiring action during the next cycle of the Sustainable Development of Air Transport in Africa Initiative (2017-2019):

Areas for Improvement for Antananarivo Decisions (2015) The Way Forward Identified in Sustainable Development of Accra (2017-2019) Air Transport in Africa 1. Air transport being a catalyst High priority should be given by States should commit to for economic growth, all States’ policymakers to implement the Single African Air reasonable steps are to be taken implement the regulatory Transport Market (SAATM), to foster air services to allow air framework of the YD aiming at enhancing air carriers to operate freely between encouraging air transport connectivity through points anywhere in Africa and development as part of broader implementation of the YD to be beyond, in conformity with the aviation development and launched in July 2017. Decision relating to the economic growth policy, implementation of the coordinated across national Declaration borders in convergence with the concerning the liberalisation of ICAO worldwide framework and access to air transport markets in YD. Africa (YD). 2. Restrictions on traffic rights, Further liberalization of air States are encouraged to include limitations on capacity in air transport services should be the ICAO long-term vision for services agreements and air promoted and States should be international air transport carrier ownership and control encouraged to revise their air liberalization in implementing rules hinder growth and stifle services agreements to align the African Civil Aviation Policy investment. Under a gradual and them with YD. (AFCAP). balanced liberalization of air services, regional and global air States should take opportunity of links would be expanded and the ICAO Air Services connectivity would be increased. Negotiation (ICAN) event for Competitiveness would improve, this purpose. foreign direct investment would increase, and economic development would accelerate. Therefore, air services agreements should evolve to allow more flexibility, including in terms of capacity. 3. The air transport value chain is Cooperation should be promoted ICAO should coordinate with a combined set of interconnected between different units of the air States and other international parties, locations, procedures, transport value chain within partners in all areas covered by and information exchanges that States and on the international the Antananarivo Declaration,

- 2 - enhances air transport arena and cooperation fostered through sharing data, best connectivity and increases with partner organizations: practices and information; and consumers’ benefits. There is World Tourism Organization actively raising awareness of room for further improvement in (UNWTO), International Air decision-makers on the positive the cooperation between all Transport Association (IATA), impact of air transport on stakeholders in the air transport Airports Council International economic development. The value chain. (ACI), African Airlines Civil Air Navigation Services Association (AFRAA), African Organization (CANSO) will Civil Aviation Commission assist States in data sharing. (AFCAC), the African Union Commission (AUC) and the Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA). 4. The importance of protecting States should support the efforts States and air transport industry the interests of consumers of ICAO in the development of stakeholders should incorporate including in Africa is universally policy guidance on consumer the ICAO Core Principles on supported. However, the protection and foster the adoption Consumer Protection and the effectiveness of regulatory and implementation of ICAO’s regulations developed by responses adopted by States to core principles on consumer AFCAC (AU) in their regulatory protect air transport users will protection when finally adopted and operational practices. Air benefit from increased as ICAO policy guidance taking transport consumers should be convergence and compatibility. into account the African Union represented by a global Considering the large impacts of (AU) user protection regulation. organization at appropriate ICAO massive air service disruptions Consumer representative fora. on passengers, as well as on organizations should be airline and airport operators, it is associated to these efforts. necessary to develop mechanisms to minimize the negative impacts of such disruptions in air transport services. 5. Fair competition is an Cooperation among national States should strengthen important general principle in the and/or regional competition regulatory capabilities, and operation of international air authorities should be encouraged develop more simplified, stable services, as recognized by the by States and ICAO’s efforts to and transparent competition Chicago Convention. There is a enhance cooperation, dialogue rules. need for States to give due and the exchange of information consideration to the concerns of to promote more compatible AFCAC should intensify other States in the application of regulatory approaches toward sensitization and awareness national or regional competition competition in international air among its Member States on the laws and policies, as well as a transport should be supported, competition and dispute need for cooperation among taking into account the AU settlement rules adopted for the competition authorities. competition rules and dispute implementation of the YD. settlement mechanisms. 6. Security and facilitation of air The current security requirements States should support the transport need to go hand in in the national security MoveAfrica Initiative of the New hand. All parties have a shared programmes should be reflected; Partnership for Africa’s responsibility to ensure that the risk management and Development (NEPAD) for the passengers can travel safely and coordination with the partner free movement of goods and securely. At the same time the organizations working in the services in Africa, and the traffic flow should not be value chain should be development of “soft restricted by the lack of effective implemented. infrastructure” (such as cross- implementation of the YD. Visa The current facilitation border transport laws, regulation - 3 - facilitation should be supported requirements in the framework of related to border crossing, and and addressed by the Policy the ICAO Traveller Identification organizational systems and Organs of AU. Programme (TRIP) Strategy resources). should be reflected. Wide use should be made of such tools as States should implement the electronic visas. All kinds of ICAO TRIP Strategy and non-physical barriers established declaration and targets by African States should be related to removal of visa eliminated throughout the restrictions in Africa by 2018 in Continent. compliance with AU Agenda 2063. 7. The infrastructure and Considering the importance and States should integrate aviation intermodal transport services role of infrastructure to support and multi-modal transport play a vital role in political, necessary development of strategies into their national economic and social airports and intermodal development plans. development as well as the transportation infrastructure to PIDA should support States in integration of Africa. While the meet the demand for air services, the development of “hard access to capital remains an due consideration should be infrastructure” (such as airports, issue, ways exist for making given to practices for attracting railways, cargo transhipment projects attractive not only for public and private capital in the facilities, national border government financing, but also most cost-effective manner. facilities). through techniques such as public private partnerships (PPP). States should construct and In this context, lending manage quality aviation institutions should be encouraged infrastructure that is efficient in to further support States in view of life-cycle cost, reliable, financing the sustainable safe, resilient against natural development of air transport in disasters and environmentally Africa. friendly, to strengthen connectivity in Africa.

States should clearly identify where financing is required through gap-analyses between forecasted demand and capacity needed, and explore what national and international financing options are available to meet the infrastructure requirements.

States should take pragmatic measures to build a transparent, stable and predictable investment climate to support aviation development, for example by engaging multiple stakeholders, diversifying funding sources, and associating the private sector. 8. Air cargo plays a vital role in The strategic decisions taken in States should implement by the African economy, as roughly the framework of the Declaration December 2017 the Continental 35 per cent of global trade by on the Development of Air Cargo Free Trade Area (CFTA), in - 4 - value is transported by air and in Africa, adopted during the particular if trade liberalization is the success of many economies ICAO meeting hosted by in associated with trade facilitation and operations depends on rapid Lomé, from 5 to 7 August 2014, measures, the removal or and reliable delivery of goods. should be supported and reduction of non-tariff barriers, Air cargo services are therefore a implemented. the optimization of the regulatory major contributor to the framework, and enhanced Continent’s sustainable economic infrastructure. development. 9. In certain cases, air services to Due consideration should be States and industry stakeholders remote or peripheral destinations given to the particular should promote the “Africa” may not be commercially viable, importance of air services for brand for tourism services with a due to low traffic volumes. With economic development in long- view to stimulating demand for tourism recognized as as a focal haul destinations and landlocked air passenger services and instrument for economic or island countries. States should increasing traffic. development, including in Least consider, in a cooperative and Developed Countries (LDCs), coordinated manner, the States, through air transport and Small Island Developing States implementation of support tourism authorities, should (SIDS) and Landlocked mechanisms such as the Essential cooperate in a holistic manner Developing Countries (LLDCs), Service and Tourism with private stakeholders for the mechanisms linking tourist Development Route (ESTDR) coordinated development of both originating countries to scheme or other element. sectors. Ghana and Jamaica will destinations may be beneficial. participate in ICAN in December 2017 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, to report on the importance of the outcomes of the Special Diaspora Event held on this day in Accra, Ghana. 10. The economic benefits of States should ensure that ICAO ICAO should collaborate with further opening the aviation principles regarding user charges AFCAC and put in place a market, in accordance with the (contained in the ICAO’s permanent consultation platform YD, would include the multiplier Policies on Charges for Airports on the impact of taxes and other effects generated by additional and Air Navigation Services, Doc levies on air transport. air transport for economic 9082) are followed by relevant activities and would facilitate the authorities. States should also States should designate focal inclusion of isolated African ensure that ICAO’s Policies on points for ICAO’s State Air countries or regions in the Taxation in the Field of Transport Action Plan System international market. However, if International Air Transport (SATAPS) and regularly submit aviation charges and taxes are too (contained in the ICAO Policies data to this online monitoring and high, the ability of air transport to on Taxation in the Field of implementation tool. ICAO be an economic catalyst may be International Air Transport, Doc should keep raising awareness of compromised. 8632) are followed by relevant States on SATAPS, and should authorities so as to avoid enhance its capabilities for imposing discriminatory taxes on analysis and comparison, its international aviation which may interactivity and its user- have negative impacts on friendliness. industry competitiveness and States’ national economies. ICAO’s efforts to develop, in collaboration with relevant industry organizations, analysis and guidance to States on the impact of taxes and other levies - 5 -

on air transport should be supported. To this end, a permanent consultation platform including all stakeholders of the industry should be established. 11. Africa’s resolve to establish a States are urged to urgently join ICAO should support AFCAC single air transport market should the single air transport market and the Member States in the be encouraged, promoted and undertaking in order to maximise implementation of the SAATM supported in order to materialize its benefits to the entire continent in July 2017. implementation of the YD and as early as possible. The AUC, ensure even more benefits of air AFCAC and the RECs should transport to the continent. The expedite the process of focus should be on ensuring that operationalizing the single the single market leads to the market and work with States to strengthening of the continent’s remove all constraints to the air transport industry covering building of a competitive air African airlines, airports, air transport industry in Africa. The navigation services providers, support of ICAO and other Civil Aviation Authorities and technical organisations and other related services. To this stakeholders is essential to ensure effect, air operators should as the African market complies with much as possible take advantage the established international of the possibilities offered by aviation regulatory framework. cooperation agreements and global alliances. 12. New developments in the air The urgent need should be States and financial institutions transport sector such as new recognized to strengthen the should contribute to the systems, procedures, aircraft continent’s expertise, to invest in ICAO/AFCAC Human performance capabilities, qualified personnel and promote Resources Development Fund renewable fuels, new supporting gender diversity through training (HRDF), to build required infrastructure and new ways to to cater to the needs created by capacity on the continent. do business create the need for the modernization and growing highly educated and skilled complexity of the air transport professionals to cope with these sector. Active participation developments in order to sustain should be taken in ICAO’s the economic growth in Africa. initiatives for capacity building and full support given to the AFCAC initiative Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) for Africa supported by ICAO and other stakeholders. 13. It is necessary to encourage States that have not done so States should, in cooperation the access of air transport should be urged to accede to, with regional economic operators to financing sources accept or ratify the Convention communities (RECs) and other allowing the acquisition of more and Protocol to the Convention relevant bodies, encourage the modern aircraft. on International Interests in setting up of aircraft leasing Mobile Equipment on Matters companies, and thus facilitate the Specific to Aircraft Equipment acquisition of more modern signed at on 16 aircraft. November 2001 (CTC) to facilitate the acquisition of ICAO should collaborate with modern and fuel efficient aircraft, AFCAC to keep urging States - 6 - to ensure more economical, that have not yet become parties reliable and more to CTC and ICAO instruments environmentally friendly air governing international air transport. transport to do so. 14. It is necessary that Work should also be carried out ICAO should collaborate with passengers, their heirs, air freight by relevant bodies to stimulate AFCAC to keep urging States shippers and recipients benefit faster ratifications of MC99. that have not yet become parties from the advantages conferred by to MC99 and ICAO instruments the Convention for the governing international air Unification of Certain Rules for transport to do so. International Carriage by Air adopted in Montréal on 28 May 1999 (MC99).

Participants reiterated their commitment to strive towards the implementation of the Antananarivo Declaration and to meet at regular intervals, to assess progress and take necessary action.

Presented by Mr. Simon Allotey Chairman of the Meeting Accra, Ghana, 30 March 2017