The African Airlines Association (AFRAA) has announced the full operational rollout of Free Route Airspace (FRA) in the Western and Central Africa (WACAF) region, marking one of the most significant advancements in African aviation history.
Effective today, any airline operating in the vast WACAF airspace – covering 24 countries and managed by multiple air navigation service providers – can now plan and fly direct User Preferred Routes (UPRs), bypassing the rigid fixed routes that have governed African skies for decades.
The shift enables pilots to select the most fuel-efficient and time-saving paths based on real-time weather, wind patterns, and operational needs, delivering immediate benefits in reduced flight times, lower fuel burn, and significantly decreased carbon emissions.
AFRAA Secretary General Mr. Abdérahmane Berthé described the achievement as “a game-changer for African aviation.”
“This is a testament to what we can achieve through collaboration,” Berthé said. “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.”
The two-year journey from trials launched in November 2023 to full implementation was made possible through a close partnership between airlines, air navigation service providers (ANSPs), the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), ICAO, IATA, CANSO, and regional authorities, including ASECNA, Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, Nigeria’s NAMA, RVA and Roberts FIR.
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A pivotal joint workshop in Dakar earlier this year sealed the consensus to end the trial phase and move to unrestricted operations.
Early results already impressive
Six flagship African carriers – Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, EGYPTAIR, Royal Air Maroc, RwandAir, and ASKY Airlines – were the first to receive approval for UPRs across 30 major city pairs. Combined, these routes are projected to save the airlines more than 1,393 flight hours annually, eliminate approximately 5,000 metric tonnes of fuel burn, avoid 16,000 metric tonnes of CO₂ emissions, and reduce fuel costs by around US$15 million per year.
Open skies for all operators
From today, the WACAF airspace is officially a “free route” for every airline. Carriers can submit new User Preferred Route requests, with regional ANSPs committing to approve them within 48 hours. By mid-2026, once final administrative formalities are completed by the 24 WACAF States, no prior approval will be required at all, achieving true seamless free routing.
Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President for Intra-African Trade and Export Development at Afreximbank, which has backed the project since 2023, underlined the broader economic impact:
“Efficient, safe and well-regulated air services are critical to facilitating intra-African trade, tourism and connectivity in line with the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),” Awani said. “Afreximbank remains fully committed to supporting the full implementation of SAATM and the establishment of an effective and efficient aviation industry across the continent.”
Next stop: Eastern and Southern Africa
Buoyed by the WACAF success, AFRAA and its partners have already set their sights on 2026, when trials in the Eastern and Southern Africa (ESAF) region are expected to conclude with full FRA deployment to follow, bringing the entire continent closer to a unified, efficient and sustainable air transport system.
A new web-based coordination platform is also under development to further simplify planning and operations between airlines and ANSPs.
