East African Community members need to rethink their aviation sectors or thier dreams of connecting the world and national pride will remain unachievable.
EAC has a fleet size of 60 planes flying to 89 destinations (Kenya 40-53; Rwandaair 12-23; Tanzania 8-13) Uganda, Burundi, South Sudan do not have national carriers. EAC stats are dwarfed regionally by Ethiopian Airlines which has a fleet of 112 flying 125 passenger and 40 cargo destinations.
Compared to international Middle Eastern "competitors" flying regionally like Emirates (258 planes, 158 destinations) and Turkish (336 planes, 304 destinations) EAC carriers are really puny.
Debt ladden EAC carriers (where they exist) are playing in the village league under delusion that they are competing with international counterparts. Only collaborative effort will lead to meaningful impact in the sector. EAC member countries should dissolve their airlines and form an East African Airline (Call it Safari Airlines). Countries without their own airlines like Uganda and Burundi should invest in the new East African Airline.
A collaborative East African Airline will have monopoly in East & Central Africa, challenge the regional giants based on bigger capital base and economies of scale.
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