The East African Community (EAC) is trying to encourage its member states to lower flight fares across the region. According to East Africa Legislative Assembly Speaker, Margaret Zziwa, the cost of flights to many parts of the EAC needs to be subsidised.
Speaking during the official opening of the Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency (CASSOA) in Entebbe over the weekend, Zziwa noted that EAC flight passengers were getting a raw deal considering the fact that the organization was founded to ensure equality among its member states. This comes shortly after the EAC made plans to introduce passport-free trips to Rwanda.
The Community’s Secretary General, Richard Sezibera has also called for the removal of non-tariff barriers among member states. Sezibera argued that the EAC should focus on competing with countries from outside the region instead of taxing its local flight passengers. Kenya Airways (KQ) currently charges USD 353 (KES 30,000) for a round trip flight from Nairobi to either Kampala or Entebbe. Rwanda’s Rwandair charges USD 405 (KES 34,000) while East African Safari Air charges USD 1368 (KES 115,000), 74% more than KQ.
Also discussed during the grand opening, was the time it takes to clear flights between regions. It currently takes about 72 hours before planes are permitted to take off from Uganda to Tanzania, forcing passengers to wait before they can actually confirm the dates of departure.
Flight charges within the EAC are generally subsidized but air couriers are the ones who increase the ticket prices due to taxes among other levies. If the EAC manages to pull this off, Kenyans can expect cheaper fares and shorter a clearance time for flights within the region.
Below is a table, showing current flight fares from Nairobi to either Kampala or Entebbe (First Class, Round Trip):
