The African Airlines Association (AFRAA) has announced a major breakthrough for the continent’s aviation sector with the full operational deployment of Free Route Airspace (FRA) across the West and Central Africa (WACAF) region, effective 30 October 2025. The development, which follows successful trials launched in November 2023, marks a new era in African aviation as airlines gain the ability to design and operate User Preferred Routes (UPRs) that are more direct, fuel-efficient and environmentally sustainable. By moving away from fixed, conventional air corridors, UPRs enable pilots to adjust to real-time weather and wind conditions, reducing fuel burn, cutting flight times, lowering operational costs and significantly decreasing carbon emissions.
Afreximbank has supported the FRA programme since its inception, aligning its contribution with its Memorandum of Understanding with AFRAA and with global standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation. The deployment of FRA is the result of strong collaboration between airlines and air navigation service providers, who reached a joint decision in Dakar, Senegal to conclude the trial phase and transition to full implementation. AFRAA Secretary General Abdérahmane Berthé described the milestone as a defining moment for African aviation, emphasising that the move enhances airline competitiveness, boosts profitability and reinforces the sector’s commitment to environmental sustainability. He also expressed appreciation to Afreximbank and regional stakeholders, including ASECNA, the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Régie des Voies Aériennes, Roberts FIR, IATA, ICAO and CANSO, for their contribution to the initiative.
In a demonstration of the programme’s transformative impact, six leading African airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, EGYPTAIR, Royal Air Maroc, RwandAir and ASKY Airlines—received approval to operate UPRs across 30 key city pairs. The adoption of UPRs is projected to save more than 1,393 cumulative flight hours annually, reduce fuel burn by 5,000 metric tonnes, avoid 16,000 metric tonnes of CO₂ emissions and cut fuel costs by an estimated US$15 million per year. Afreximbank Executive Vice President for Intra-African Trade and Export Development, Kanayo Awani, underscored the importance of efficient and well-regulated air transport in supporting intra-African trade, tourism and connectivity under the goals of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Beginning 30 October 2025, the WACAF airspace is fully open for free routes, giving all airlines the opportunity to file UPRs, with air navigation service providers committing to processing requests within 48 hours. By mid-2026, once administrative adjustments by the 24 WACAF states are complete, airlines will no longer require approval for new routes, further streamlining air traffic operations across the region. The successful rollout in WACAF sets the stage for the next continental phase. In 2026, focus will shift to the Eastern and Southern Africa airspace to conclude ongoing trials and implement a similar FRA system, supported by plans to develop a web-based coordination platform that will enhance collaboration between airlines and air navigation service providers.
