South Africa agrees air traffic deal with Cameroon

20 June 2011

South Africa (SA) has confirmed an air traffic deal with Cameroon, which could see a boost to its transport industry.

Business Day reported that SA transport minister Sibusiso Ndebele agreed to open the skies with his Cameroon counterpart Bello Bouba Maigari in order to allow South African Airways (SAA) to have a mini base in west Africa.

It is thought that the move will help the airline to expand further, which will support the growing airport infrastructure in SA.

Chris Zweigenthal, chief executive officer of the Airlines Association of Southern Africa, told the news provider that this deal was a "good development".

"It allows for greater point-to-point traffic within the region," he went on to say.

This agreement demonstrates the increasing demand for investment in SA's transport sector and last week Mr Ndebele said R200 billion (£18 billion) was needed in order to modernise its travel infrastructure.

He stated that this was necessary in order for the economy to be "internationally competitive".  

Category: Transport