The African Airlines Association (AFRAA) has recorded a transformative milestone in African aviation industry with the full operational deployment of Free Route Airspace (FRA) in the Western and Central Africa (WACAF) region, with effect from October 30 this year
This feat, transitioning from successful trials initiated in November 2023, will allow any airline to plan and fly more direct User Preferred Routes (UPRs), thereby enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of air travel across the continent.
Specifically, the UPRs allow airlines to fly the most fuel-efficient and timely paths based on current conditions, rather than having to follow fixed, conventional routes, giving the pilots more flexibility and enabling them to adjust to factors like weather and winds, leading to reduced fuel consumption, shorter flight times and lower carbon emissions.
A news report from African Press Organisation (APO) Group circulated on behalf of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) indicated that the bank had supported the FRA initiative since the trials commenced in 2023.
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It stated that the deal was in accordance with its Memorandum of Understanding with AFRAA and in line with the Global Air Navigation Plan of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the conclusions of the Africa-India (AFI) FRA Planning and Implementation Regional Group.
The news report noted that the deployment of the FRA represented a decisive step resulting from a collaborative effort between air operators and air navigation service providers (ANSPs) who reached a consensus at a joint workshop in Dakar, Senegal to conclude the trial phase and move to full implementation.
Speaking on the FRA initiative, AFRAA Secretary-General, Mr. Abdérahmane Berthé, explained: “The implementation of Free Route Airspace in the WACAF region is a game-changer for African aviation.
“This is a testament to what we can achieve through collaboration. By cutting flight times and fuel consumption, we are not only boosting the competitiveness and profitability of our airlines but also making a significant commitment to environmental sustainability.
“We extend our profound gratitude to Afreximbank and all stakeholders who have journeyed with us for their unwavering commitment to this vision: the Western and Central African Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs), Agence pour la Sécurité de la Navigation Aérienne en Afrique et à Madagascar (ASECNA), Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Régie des Voies Aériennes (RVA), Roberts Flight Information Region (Roberts FIR), The International Air Transport Association (IATA), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the Civil Air Navigation Services Organization (CANSO”, the industry expert added.
Similarly, commenting on the FRA initiative, Executive Vice President, Intra-African Trade and Export Development, Afreximbank, Mrs. Kanayo Awani, said: “Efficient, safe, and well-regulated air services are critical to facilitating intra-African trade, tourism and connectivity in line with the objectives of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“Afreximbank is fully committed to supporting the full implementation of SAATM and the establishment of an effective and efficient aviation industry through a range of financing instruments, including its aircraft leasing platform as well as trade facilitation interventions”, the banker assured
On the benefits of the FRA launch for airlines in the region, experts estimated that at least six leading African airlines, including Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, EGYPTAIR, Royal Air Maroc, RwandAir and ASKY Airlines were granted approval for UPRs, connecting 30 key city pairs.
Industry experts projected that the shift to UPRs was expected to generate significant annual returns to participating airlines including over 1,393 hours of cumulative flight time saved, cutting 5,000 metric tonnesof fuel burn and therefore avoiding some 16,000 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions, and a reduction in annual fuel costs of about US$ 15 million.
Consequently, the WACAF airspace is now open for free routes. Starting 30 October 2025, any airline can plan and operate User Preferred Routes as the region’s ANSPs have committed to approving newly requested UPR within 48 hours.
Furthermore, following final administrative work by the 24 WACAF States, this process will be further streamlined, with approvals no longer required for new UPR requests from mid-2026.
Analysts believe that the success in WACAF will pave the way for the next phase of continental integration, with the focus for 2026 shifting to the Eastern and Southern Africa (ESAF) airspace to conclude trials and achieve a similar FRA implementation.
The region is also committed to developing a web-based coordination platform to streamline operations for airlines and ANSPs.
