In 2023, the East African Community (EAC) took important steps toward deeper integration of aviation policies across member states. This progress reflected a long-standing ambition to create a unified airspace and regulatory environment that would enhance safety, reduce costs, and facilitate seamless air travel across the region. This article reviews the developments in regional aviation agreements within the EAC, evaluates the new policy initiatives introduced in 2023, and assesses their implications for the future of East African air connectivity.
The vision of a harmonized aviation space in East Africa dates back to the early 2000s, when the EAC first prioritized transport integration as part of its broader economic cooperation agenda. Aviation was identified as a key enabler of trade, tourism, and regional mobility.
Despite significant air traffic growth, member states—Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda—have historically maintained fragmented aviation regulations, with different licensing, safety, and air navigation frameworks. These inconsistencies hindered operational efficiency and created barriers for airlines seeking cross-border operations.
To address these issues, the EAC developed the Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency (CASSOA), tasked with supporting regulatory harmonization across the bloc. By 2023, pressure from global stakeholders—including ICAO, IATA, and the African Union’s Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) initiative—accelerated momentum toward realizing a regional aviation agreement.
Policy/Regulation Details
The EAC’s 2023 aviation integration policy was anchored in two major developments:
- Regional Mutual Recognition of Licenses and Certifications:
A central pillar of the new framework was the establishment of mutual recognition of air operator certificates (AOCs), personnel licenses (for pilots, air traffic controllers, engineers), and aviation training institutions. This meant that an airline or professional licensed in one EAC country could operate or work in another without repeating the entire approval process. - Standardized Safety and Airworthiness Regulations:
The member states adopted common technical standards, closely aligned with ICAO Annexes, and CASSOA facilitated joint safety oversight audits and surveillance missions. A shared safety reporting system was also introduced to track incidents and best practices across borders.
Additional components of the 2023 regional aviation agreement included:
- Harmonized Air Navigation Services: Collaborative airspace design and joint planning of navigation infrastructure were initiated to reduce overlap and ensure cost-effective deployment of radars and communication systems.
- Environmental and Climate Policies Alignment: A shared framework was developed to coordinate carbon offsetting obligations, in line with CORSIA, across EAC states.
- Regional Dispute Resolution Mechanism: A protocol was adopted to handle aviation-related disputes between states, regulators, or operators under EAC institutional frameworks.
- Liberalization of Routes: Although full open skies had not yet been realized, the agreement allowed more flexibility in fifth freedom rights among EAC carriers operating regional routes.
The new policies were endorsed by the EAC Council of Ministers and embedded within the broader EAC Transport and Infrastructure Strategy (2023–2033).
Impact and Challenges
The 2023 agreement brought optimism across the aviation sector. Airlines benefited from simplified licensing, reduced regulatory duplication, and better access to regional markets. Smaller carriers, in particular, found it easier to scale services across borders without undergoing multiple bureaucratic processes.
Moreover, harmonized safety oversight improved confidence among passengers and insurers. Regional carriers also began exploring code-sharing and operational partnerships, supported by the common regulatory language.
However, full implementation proved uneven. Some national authorities were slower to align their laws or were reluctant to relinquish sovereign control over aviation licensing. Infrastructure disparities also made standardization difficult—some states lacked the necessary technical capacity or digital systems for shared oversight tools.
Political will and financing remained critical. While CASSOA played a coordinating role, its limited budget and staffing constrained its ability to provide technical assistance at the scale needed for all six states.
Furthermore, disagreements occasionally arose over interpretation of mutual recognition clauses and liberalization rights, highlighting the importance of the newly introduced dispute resolution mechanism.
Conclusion
The EAC’s 2023 regional aviation agreement represented a pivotal milestone in East Africa’s journey toward an integrated and efficient air transport system. By promoting mutual recognition, regulatory harmonization, and joint oversight mechanisms, the agreement laid the foundation for a more connected and competitive aviation market. While gaps in implementation and coordination remain, the progress made in 2023 reflects the region’s shared commitment to transforming aviation into a driver of economic and social integration. With sustained investment and cooperation, the vision of a unified East African aviation space is well within reach.
