Travel within Africa is often unnecessarily complex, expensive, and time-consuming. Many routes between African cities involve long layovers, multiple stops, or even detours through Europe. For example, flying from Johannesburg to Dakar might take over 14 hours with stops in Gabon and Togo, or an even longer 26-hour route through Istanbul. Similarly, getting from Port Sudan to Kampala or from sub-Saharan to North Africa often requires stopovers outside the continent. These inefficient routes can cost travelers upwards of $1,000 for a return ticket.
Limited Airlines, High Costs
One major problem is the small number of African airlines. Carriers like Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, and EgyptAir dominate, but only serve certain regions. European and Middle Eastern airlines often fill in the gaps, but at a high cost and with added inconvenience. The financial burden of expanding African airlines is significant — new routes require major investments in aircraft, maintenance, and insurance. With limited passenger demand, launching new routes is rarely justified.
Additionally, the continent lacks low-cost carriers, making air travel unaffordable for many Africans. Without affordable and accessible regional flights, there’s little incentive to invest in domestic tourism or airline infrastructure. It becomes a vicious cycle: high prices limit travel demand, and low demand makes it hard to reduce prices.
The Visa Challenge
Despite the cultural, linguistic, and ethnic ties between African nations, visa restrictions create barriers to movement. In many cases, travelers with European passports find it easier to move around Africa than African passport holders. Some efforts toward visa liberalization exist — Kenya, for instance, has pledged to allow visa-free travel for all Africans — but implementation is still pending.
Political tensions and conflicts can also lead to the rollback of visa agreements. For instance, Sudan and Egypt ended a long-standing free travel arrangement after conflict erupted in Sudan. The African Union continues to push for greater freedom of movement, arguing that it is essential for economic development and regional integration.
Remembering Air Afrique
Decades ago, Air Afrique — a joint effort by several West African countries and two French airlines — offered a glimpse of what pan-African air travel could look like. At its peak, the airline flew to 56 destinations and became a cultural symbol, sponsoring events and influencing style. But financial mismanagement and global challenges, like the 9/11 attacks, led to its collapse in 2002.
A Glimmer of Hope
Despite the setbacks, new initiatives show promise. Kenya and South Africa are working on a joint pan-African airline, and Nigeria is planning direct flights to Caribbean nations like Jamaica and Barbados. For this vision to succeed, serious investment in infrastructure, improved visa policies, and regional cooperation will be needed.
Ultimately, as cultural and political ties across Africa and the diaspora grow, the argument for better air connectivity is stronger than ever. And, with a bit of imagination, the uniforms alone could be something to look forward to.
