1. AVIATION IN TRANSITION:CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF LIBERALISATION
COMESA’S EXPERIENCE

2. MAP OF COMESA

3. HISTORY OF COMESA
1958&1960 – Meetings of Independent African States agreed to promote economic co-operation amongst themselves to combat fragmented economies and small market size.
1965 – UNECA ministerial meeting in Lusaka, Zambia recommended creation of Economic Community of Eastern and Southern African States.
1981 – Treaty establishing Preferential Trade Area (PTA) was signed. Treaty envisioned transformation of PTA into a Common Market in ten years.
1982 – PTA Treaty was ratified.

4. HISTORY OF COMESA ..cont’d
1993 – Treaty establishing COMESA signed.
1994 – COMESA Treaty ratified.
Economic integration in Eastern and Southern Africa is a logical systematic step by step process from Preferential Trade Area to a Common Market and then an Economic Community.

5. COMESA VISION
To attain a fully integrated internationally competitive regional economic community with high standards of living of its people and where goods, services, capital and labour move freely across borders

6. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF COMESA
To attain sustainable growth and development of the member sates
To promote joint development in all fields of economic activity
To co-operate in the creation of an enabling environment for foreign, cross-border and domestic investment
To co-operate in the promotion of peace, security and stability among member states
To co-operate in strengthening the relations between COMESA and the rest of the world.
To contribute towards the establishment, progress and realization of the objectives of the African Economic Community.

7. DECISSION MAKING PROCESS OF COMESA
Authority
Council of Ministers
COMESA Court Of Justice
Committee of Governors of Central Banks
Inter-Governmental Committee
Technical Committees(12)
Consultative Committee of Business
Secretariat

8. COMESA IN CONTINENTAL CONTEXT
PTA/COMESA established under the auspices of Lagos Plan of Action and Final Act of Lagos which seek to establish African Economic Community
COMESA like other RECs is building of African Economic Community
COMESA Air Transport Liberalization Programme in line with Abuja Treaty(1994) – Articles 61 and 88

9. YAMOUSSOUKRO DECISION
Yamoussoukro Decision based on Abuja Treaty and came into force 12 August 2000
Yamoussoukro Decision provides for:
Removal of restrictions on traffic rights including 5th Freedom
Fixation of tariffs without government approval
Multiple designation
Criteria for market access for eligible airlines
Standards for safety and security

10. AIR TRANSPORT LIBERAZATION PROGRAMME OF COMESA
Based on the COMESA Treaty Article 87(3) a, c, d, e, g and I which provide for:
Adoption of common policies
Liberalization of air transport services
Harmonization of civil aviation regulations
Harmonization of airport facilitation procedures
Implementation of CNS/ATM systems
Harmonization and co-ordination safety oversight and security programmes

11. REGULATIONS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF LIBERALISATION OF AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES – LEGAL NOTICE No. 2 OF 1999
Promulgated by Council in May 1999 and came into force October 1999
Adopted a two phase implementation schedule and timetable
Phase 1 October 1999 – October 2000
Phase 2 October 2000 – October 2001

12. LEGAL NOTICE No.2 --CONT’D
PHASE 1 (OCT OCT 2000)
Free movement of cargo and non-schd pax
Free movement of schd pax up to 2 daily frequencies per city pair
Multiple designation
Elimination of capacity/equipment restrictions
Fifth freedom traffic limited to 30% on sectors with 3rd & 4th freedom services and unlimited on sectors without 3rd & 4th freedom services

13. LEGAL NOTICE No.2 ..cont’d PHASE 2 (OCT 2000 – OCT 2001)
PROVIDES FOR FREE MOVEMENT OF INTRA-COMESA AIR TRANSPORT SERVICES

14. STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF LEGAL NOTICE No.2
COMESA AIR TRANSPORT REGULATORY BOARD (ATRB) WAS ESTABLISHED
TWELVE MEMBER STATES HAVE IMPLEMENTED: BURUNDI, DJIBOUTI, EGYPT, ERITRIA, ETHIOPIA, KENYA, MADAGASCAR, RWANDA, UGANDA, SUDAN, ZAMBIA & ZIMBABWE
OTHER STATES EXPRESSED DIFFICULITIES IN IMPLEMENTING AND WERE ALLOWED TO SEEK DEROGATION

15. WAY FORWARD
ACTIVITIES IN THE AREAS OF HARMONISATION, MONITORING AND PROTECTION OF CONSUMERS INCLUDE:
INSTITUTIONAL AND MONITORING MECHANISM
COMESA AIR TRANSPORT POLICY
IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS
MEMORANDUM FOR COURT OF JUSTICE AND TRIBUNAL
CAPACITY BUILDING IN STAKE HOLDERS
CONSUMER PROTECTION REGULATIONS
REGULATORY HARMONISATION
INCORPORATION OF COUNCIL REGULATIONS INTO NATIONAL LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE
EXPAND PROGRAMME TO COVER AVIATION SAFETY AND SECURITY

16. IMPACT OF PHASE 1 INCREASE OF FLIGHT FREQUENCES BETWEEN CITY PAIRS
REDUCTION IN FARES DUE TO COMPETION
INCREASE IN AIRLINE CO-OPERATION
INCREASE IN REVENUE TO AIRPORTS AND ATS PROVIDERS
INCREASE IN CONSUMER CHOICE DUE TO NEW AIRLINES ENTERING THE MARKET

17. CO-OPERATION WITH OTHER RECS
COMESA IS ALREADY WORKING JOINTY WITH EAC & SADC ON COMPETION REGULATIONS
COMESA IS ALREADY EXPLORING WAYS TO CO-OPERATE WITH OTHER RECS: CEMAC, CENSAD, ECOWAS,IGAD, IOC, MRU, UMA, UEMOA, etc

18. Please wait a second for an animation of air links in Africa
IN CONCLUSION
Please wait a second for an animation of air links in Africa