Comesa pushing for single airspace but will airlines survive the competition?
An Ethiopian Airlines airliner at the Entebbe International Airport. The open skies agreement could be a poisoned chalice for the struggling airlines that have been relying on state subsidies to survive, as they could collapse from the increased competition. PHOTO | MORGAN MBABAZI | NATION
On May 18, ministers of justice and attorneys-general from the Comesa region approved an agreement for the creation of a single airspace for the 19-member bloc.
The open skies agreement guarantees a free market for the bloc’s airlines by abolishing restrictions on, among others things, routes, frequencies, number of selected airlines and type of aircraft, while market forces determine pricing.
