East African legislators want regional Airspace liberalized in time for ‘Pamoja’ AFCON 2027
As Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda continue toying with the idea of liberating their air space, regional legislators warn that this will badly affect the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations, the continental tourney that the three countries plan to jointly host in 2027.
Members of the East Africa Legislative Assembly (EALA) are pointing out that the tourney being hosted for the first time in East Africa, it will only be successful if delegates could fly freely and unhampered across the region to watch matches at different arenas in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
And they figure that unbridled airspace is not rocket science either, it can become a flying reality with the liberation of air traffic rights bill 2026, which also entails the domestication of Air Spaces, leading to cutting down myriads of taxes currently imposed on travelers using regional airlines and airports.
And now legislators in Arusha want to push the bill to that effect.
EALA member, Kennedy Musyoka Kalonzo, from Kenya presented the first draft of motion before the parliament.
But already the aviation strategy of the East African Community defines a time-bound, policy-backed shift from fragmented national markets to a more integrated regional air transport system.
The East African Community’s strategy spells non-negotiable compliance targets, particularly the requirement for all Partner States to achieve above global average scores in safety and security audits by 2030/31.
Speaking in Arusha, Kennedy said his EALA colleagues however sent him back to the drawing board to come back with a proper write-up involving inputs from experts in all member states so that the motion could be officially handed by the legislative assembly before being passed as a bill for endorsement by the summit.
The Bill’s objective is to provide for domestication of the Community airspace as a common airspace; to liberalize the granting of air traffic rights for passenger and cargo operations; and for related matters.
The Bill is anchored on the commitment of EAC Partner States under Articles 89 and 92 of the Treaty through which Partner States undertook to harmonies their policies on civil aviation to promote the development of safe, reliable, efficient and economically viable civil aviation
It involves granting of air traffic rights for passengers and cargo operations with a view to increasing efficiency; and co-ordinate the fight schedules of their designated airlines.
The East African Community (EAC) Seventh Development Strategy 2026/27–2030/31 also outlines a coordinated approach to civil aviation development
The establishment of a common air space and single EAC air transport market was described to be necessary to deepen regional integration and support the implementation of the Common Market.
Key targets include full liberalization of air transport by 2026/27, full implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market by 2028/29, establishment of seamless upper airspace operations by 2029/30, and expansion and modernization of eight major regional airports and eight tourist airport connections within the plan period.
An Act of the Community to provide for domestication of the Community airspace as a common airspace; to liberalize the granting of air traffic rights for passenger and cargo operations; streamline the coordination of airlines and flight schedules; and for related matters.
This Act may be cited as the East African Community Domestication of Airspace and Liberalization of Air Traffic Rights Act, 2026.
The common airspace means an integrated and jointly managed airspace among EAC Partner States, managed as a single operational unit without internal boundaries.
‘EAC registered carrier’ means an air transport enterprise licensed by a Partner State civil aviation authority, regardless of ownership structure; listed under the Official Gazette of the Community;
It applies to Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia or any other country granted membership to the Community under Article 3 of the EAC Treaty.
The objective of this Act is to enhance air transportation within the Community by domesticating the EAC airspace; liberalizing the granting of air traffic rights for passengers and cargo operations and facilitating co-ordination of flight schedules of Partner States airlines.
Declaration of EAC airspace as one common air space The Summit shall on the recommendation of the Council declare the EAC air space as one common air space.
Upon the declaration by the Summit, the EAC airspace shall operate as a single EAC air transport market and shall be managed jointly as a single operational unit; and one common air space for all airlines registered and licensed by Partner States that meet the operational base requirements.
After that, the Secretary General shall publish the declaration by the Summit in the gazette.
An airline is considered an EAC registered carrier if it is registered and licensed by a Partner State and headquartered and maintains their primary operational base within the Community.
The airline must have at least sixty percent of its operational activities conducted within or between Partner States; and the senior management positions include nationals of Partner States in key operational roles.
On the other hand, the EAC common air space shall have a unified Air Traffic Control system established with integrated command in one centre designated by each Partner State.
An air operator that meets the requirements of section 5 shall enjoy and may exercise throughout the common air space, the first freedom up to the fifth freedom of the air as specified in the Convention on International Civil Aviation of 1944 Chicago Convention.
An air operator shall only operate in the common airspace if they have an air operator certificate issued by a Partner State; and an air services license issued by a Partner State.
Licensing of airlines and air operators shall be conducted and managed by the relevant authorities in each Partner State.
All flights by an EAC-registered carrier within the common airspace shall be treated and classified as domestic flights.
Operating routes within common airspace
An EAC-registered carrier shall upon licensing and without further authorization automatically have the right to operate any route within the common airspace.
In order to promote the availability of flexible and convenient travel within the Community, the Council shall facilitate and guide EAC registered carriers operating within the common airspace to coordinate their flight schedules.
A Partner State shall not impose or permit to be imposed on any EAC registered carrier, licensed by another Partner State user charges higher than those imposed on airlines operating within that Partner State.
The Council may make regulations to facilitate implementation and for better carrying into effect the provisions of this Act.