How TFTA should work
The name of the Tripartite bloc comes from the merging together of three smaller, overlapping trade blocs in Africa – the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) (see map below).
Once TFTA is ratified by the 26 member countries, the members will be able to establish trade routes across a wide market, increase investment flows, enhance competitiveness and encourage regional infrastructure development. Astral Aviation expects long-term benefits from the TFTA, with greater intraregional trade improving airfreight volumes. Gadhia said the agreement should help free up funding for badly needed infrastructure development, including airport expansion.
Based at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Astral operates a fleet of seven freighters, including 727 and DC-9 freighters, plus a 747-400F wet-leased from Atlas Air. The 15-yearold carrier lifts more than 15,000 tons of cargo every year on scheduled flights to 10 destinations, and also runs a charter network with 50 destinations.
Gadhia described Astral as one of the most successful privately owned all-cargo operations in Africa, but its fortunes could truly take off if more barriers come down under TFTA. He cited a study by InterVISTAS Consulting, which analyzed the liberalization of intra-African air markets between 12 African countries. The results of the study found that the open borders would improve connectivity, with 75 percent of country pairs having direct service.
For TFTA to take effect, two-thirds of the affected countries must ratify the agreement. So far, about 16 countries have pledged to sign the agreement, which is just short of the threshold. If the agreement is ratified, there are also plans to expand the agreement to cover all 54 African countries, which would represent the continent’s entire population of 1.1 billion.