MIAMI – Miami International Airport (MIA) and the Foundation for Democracy in Africa (FDA) are gearing up for the first-ever, three-day USAfrica Air Transportation Summit in South Florida.
The Summit takes place October 31 through November 2, 2005 at the Hotel Inter-Continental Miami at Miami Center, 100 Chopin Plaza and will feature U.S. and African air transportation regulators, airline, banking, airport and other aviation industry experts.
Summit experts will examine existing barriers and begin the process to formulate a strategy to grow air service between the United States and the African continent.
There are only 23 flights per week between the two markets compared to over 3,200 and 2,400 between the U.S. and Latin America and the Caribbean respectively. Planned topics include: demand for air service; airports’ marketing of direct air service to airlines; an analysis of Africa’s aviation infrastructure projects to sustain growth in air service; absence of U.S. carriers in the U.S./Africa market; emerging challenges for U.S./Africa air service bilateral agreements; and aviation safety and security.
“This Summit can open an air travel and trade route for Miami International Airport and South Florida,” said Aviation Director José Abreu, P.E. “MIA is always interested in expanding its aeronautical reach to the world, and the continent of Africa represents a new frontier.”
Among the speakers at the conference will be Mr. Khaya Ngqula, President and CEO, South African Airways who recently announced an interest in the airline serving Miami by the end of 2006. Other confirmed speakers include Ministers of Transportation from Ethiopia, Kenya and South Africa; and officials from the African Union, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Transportation Security Administration, aircraft manufacturer Airbus and the World Bank. U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta has been invited to give the keynote address.
The Foundation for Democracy in Africa is a Washington, D.C.-based development organization that promotes democracy, sustainable development and economic growth and plurality throughout Africa.
