Airport Certification Lag Stalls African Aviation Growth and Safety Goals
As the African aviation sector pushes for greater connectivity and seamless travel under the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), a critical foundational issue remains a stumbling block: the slow pace of airport certification. A comprehensive regional review released in mid-February 2026 has revealed that the continent has missed its interim safety targets, raising concerns among airlines, regulators, and investors alike. For the travel trade, this lag is not merely a bureaucratic statistic; it represents a tangible constraint on network expansion, insurance premiums, and the overall perception of safety that drives tourism demand.
The latest data, which assesses the status of aerodromes across the Africa-Indian Ocean (AFI) region, paints a picture of incremental but insufficient progress. The strategic objective set by safety oversight bodies was to achieve a certification rate of 48 per cent by the middle of 2025. However, figures confirmed as of November 2025 show that the region only managed to reach a global compliance rate of 44.8 per cent. While this nears the halfway mark, the shortfall indicates that a significant number of international gateways are still operating without the full seal of approval required by global standards, specifically those mandated by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
The implications of non-certification are profound for the operational landscape. Certification is the formal verification that an airport’s infrastructure, procedures, and personnel meet strict international safety norms. It encompasses everything from the condition of the runway and lighting systems to the efficacy of Rescue and Fire Fighting Services (RFFS) and wildlife hazard management. When an airport lacks this certification, international carriers—particularly those from Europe or rigid regulatory environments—may hesitate to launch new routes or increase frequencies. For African travel agents, this often translates into fewer direct flight options and a continued reliance on complex, multi-stop itineraries to reach secondary cities.
A troubling aspect of the report is the deepening regional disparity in compliance levels. The data highlights a distinct "two-speed" aviation market emerging on the continent. East and Southern Africa are generally outpacing their counterparts, boasting a higher concentration of certified hubs. This alignment with global standards has facilitated the robust growth of carriers in Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Africa, allowing them to forge strong alliances and code-share agreements. Conversely, West and Central Africa continue to struggle with lower certification rates. This gap creates a logistical bottleneck, complicating efforts to establish viable east-west connections and slowing the development of potential hubs in populous nations that are otherwise ripe for aviation growth.
For airline network planners, the certification status of an airport is a key determinant in route profitability and risk assessment. Operating into an uncertified aerodrome often incurs higher insurance costs and requires additional operational mitigations, such as carrying extra fuel or limiting payload. In an industry where margins are razor-thin, these added costs can make a route economically unviable. Consequently, the slow progress in certification directly dampens the enthusiasm of private sector investors and foreign airlines looking to enter the African market. It sends a signal that the regulatory environment is not yet fully matured, prompting capital to flow toward more standardized regions.
The report also sheds light on the challenges facing Civil Aviation Authorities (CAAs) across the continent. The certification process is rigorous and resource-intensive, requiring not just funding for infrastructure upgrades but also a cadre of highly trained technical inspectors to conduct audits. Many nations face a shortage of these qualified professionals, leading to a backlog in the certification pipeline. Furthermore, the surveillance obligations required to maintain certification once granted are equally demanding. A certified airport must undergo continuous monitoring to ensure standards do not slip, a task that strains the capacity of under-resourced regulators.
From a tourism perspective, the correlation between safety standards and destination attractiveness cannot be overstated. High-value source markets are increasingly sensitive to safety records. When travel advisories or insurance policies flag specific airports as non-compliant, it creates a barrier to entry for large-scale tour operators and charter companies. For Africa to fully capitalize on its tourism potential, ensuring that its gateways are perceived as safe and compliant world-class facilities is as important as marketing its safaris and beaches. The lag in certification effectively caps the potential for inbound tourism growth in affected regions.
Looking ahead to the remainder of 2026, the pressure is mounting on governments and airport operators to accelerate their compliance efforts. Industry experts argue that the focus must shift from mere infrastructure investment—building shiny new terminals—to operational excellence and safety management systems. There is a growing call for regional cooperation, where countries with advanced certification frameworks assist their neighbors through technical partnerships and knowledge sharing. Such collaboration could be the key to bridging the divide between the continent's sub-regions.
The stakes are high. As the continent moves toward the full implementation of open skies, the disparity in airport standards could distort the market, favoring airlines based in countries with certified infrastructure while penalizing those in lagging jurisdictions. To avoid this, a renewed commitment to hitting the revised safety targets is essential. For the African travel trade, the hope is that this report serves as a wake-up call, catalyzing the political will and financial investment needed to bring all of Africa’s major airports up to the gold standard of global aviation safety.
