Africa

Africa's  IATA regional headquarters, based in Johannesburg, are there to support and respond to the needs of its member airlines, accredited travel and cargo agents and other industry partners. The office provides essential services such as BSP and CASS support, in addtion to ensuring that IATA's industry priorties for 2008 are met. This includes dealing with issues, such as safety, security, facilitation, profitability, cost reduction and distribution.

Regional Priorities for 2008

Safety

• Safety is our number one priority. The IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) is a key tool to move the entire industry forward to the highest level of safety standards and best practises.
• Through the Partnership for Safety IATA is assisting African airlines to bring them up to IOSA by means of seminars, "gap analysis" and direct assistance with improvement plans.
• Support all IATA member airlines to complete an IOSA audit by the end of 2008.

Simplifying the Business

• Assist at least two airlines to become BCBP enabled. Regional BCBP workshops will be held to assist all stakeholders to achieve this objective.
• Work with a number of airports in the Africa region to offer CUSS facilities.
• More information can be obtained from the StB regional coordinator.

Operations and cost reduction

• Promote fuel savings through airline operational efficiencies, new routes and infrastructure enhancements.
  Projects that include VSAT, new GNSS procedures RVSM and new RNAV routes are being investigated and implemented.
• Achieve savings and cost avoidance in industry taxes, charges and fuel fees.

Training

• Skills develepment is critical in Africa.
  •  IATA's International Airline Training Fund in partnership with CFM international have created a training fund to support operational training for Africa's airline industry, in collaboration with AFRAA.
  • Moverover, IATA and ATNS are jointly offering an Aviation Management Training Programme for African Countries.
  • An agreement with South African Airways is under negotiation to establish a regional training centre for IATA airline courses.

Settlement Systems

• The deployment of IATA Settlement Systems continues throughout the region:
  • In 2008, new BSPs will be implemented in Ghana, Nigeria and Rwanda.
  • New CASSs under consideration include: Ghana, Senegal, Burkina Faso and Mali.

For more information on the above contact your Africa regional office.