- South Africa's airlines will need to invest at least US$23.3 billion by 2028, on 172 new aircraft to satisfy its growing air-travel demand, according to forecasts Airbus.
The company's latest Global Market Forecast adds that larger aircraft in all size categories are required to help ease traffic congestion and to accommodate growth on existing routes, while at the same time catering for higher fuel prices and environmental pressures for the air travel business.
The Airbus' director for market analysis, Andrew Gordon, was reported in the local media yesterday saying South Africa has experienced 27 percent growth in air traffic over the last 10 years, adding that this has been driven in part by increased international traffic which has grown by 41 percent. The figure however, does not reflect the overall decline for all African airlines’ share of the international market, which is said to have decreased by 8 percent due increased competition from international carriers who have entered the regional market.
Airbus said in a report that while expanding relations between South Africa and the emerging markets such as Brazil and India were to influence some of the growth demand, the domestic market was also expanding and estimated to have grown by at least 8 percent.
The Airbus report further stated that aviation was a key component of economic growth, calling for more closer attending to the industry as it could also create more jobs and contribute much to the countries’ GDPs through tourism, direct trade and other sectors such as manufacturing.
Currently, Africa is said to account for about 1.8 percent of the global international travel and only 1.0 percent of the international airfreight. But, the air transport sector is said to currently contribute about $10 billion to continent’s GDP.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
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