For many years, Africa's airline industry has been characterised as having almost unlimited potential. Like a Sahara mirage, however, that potential has remained shimmering on the horizon, never materialising. Given that it has 54 nations, a population of more than one billion, and a growing middle class with long distances to cover between points on the continent commentators have, for many years, predicted that Africa is about to 'take off in aviation terms. Yet this has not happened. The causes are many and well-known. Yet the continent's governments and airlines seem unable to resolve them. Attempts have been made to improve the situation. Still, a combination of factors, including fears over a loss of national sovereignty and the desire to siphon off money to ministries, has hampered these efforts. In addition, there are too many small, poorly-funded national carriers. However, these are jealously guarded by their governments, which are loath to allow the necessary mergers or consolidations that might enable airlines to combine and grow in strength.
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