Africa's air transport sector faces growing security challenges, from outdated infrastructure to subcontracting risks and cyber threats, impacting global competitiveness.
African air transport faces safety challenges
Africa's air transport sector is grappling with safety concerns that impact its competitiveness. The ability of countries and airlines to meet rising safety standards influences how attractive their platforms are, their operating costs, and the sector's future growth. High accident rate in African aviation
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Africa experienced 10 major aviation accidents in 2023, a rate of 10.59 per million flights. This is nearly ten times the global average of 1.13. Most of these incidents were caused by runway excursions and landing gear failures, with 40 percent involving turboprop aircraft on regional routes to under-equipped secondary airports. Emerging threats in aviation security
A new type of threat is emerging in aviation security. Traditionally, focus has been on preventing physical intrusions, such as through passenger screening and cockpit door reinforcement. However, this has led to hostile actors shifting strategies, exploiting legitimate access granted to professionals and service providers in the industry. Subcontracting and digital risks
To cut costs, African airlines have outsourced many operations, including handling, cleaning, catering, fueling, and maintenance. This creates vulnerabilities, as subcontractors with access to restricted areas can become entry points for threats. Digital dependencies also pose risks, with major regional hubs relying on interconnected systems for passenger data, traffic management, and predictive maintenance. Cyberattack impacts African airports
A recent cyberattack on the Namibia Airports Company (NAC) highlighted the risks of digital vulnerabilities. Unauthorized access to part of its computer network and administrative systems was detected in March. Although the incident was contained after about 10 days, it caused limited disruptions to airport operations. Budgetary challenges for security upgrades
African governments and airlines now face a complex challenge. Ensuring safety no longer just involves upgrading physical infrastructure but securing an entire interconnected system. This includes managing trust in both human operators and digital systems to maintain competitiveness and attract investment in the global aviation market.
