African Airlines Association (AFRAA) has joined hands with Saber Network solutions; a United State- based airline global distribution system company to inaugurate an African Route Network co-operation Taskforce with the aim of increasing intra- African flight frequencies, improving connectivity and offering flexibility to travelers.

According to secretary- General of AFRAA, Dr Elijah Chingosho, African carriers currently optimize their own network but have limited coordination with other African carriers.

The airline organisation however, noted that changing this trend to a more co-operative, result- driven approach through schedule optimization and code- share would deliver significant incremental revenue and benefits for airlines.

The AFRAA said tapping into expertise of Saber Airline solutions, it hoped to ensure that the African airlines route networks were integrated and aligned to allow operators to generate both incremental traffic and revenue at minimal costs.

‘Saber Airline Solution will act as the independent third party consultant for the airlines, ensuring that the project is fully implemented and the benefits realised. The consulting firm has experience in implementing similar network cooperation projects for airlines on the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean’.

He listed some of the benefits to include growing flights connectivity between African cities and between Africa and other regions by coordinating each carrier frequencies, day of operation, and departure time, developing the airline schedule on markets where the carriers have small or limited exposure, adding new destinations under the airline own code without operating the route.

Other are improving aircraft utilisation, enhancing elapse time on beyond markets to increase market share, analyzing new market opportunities by specific carrier and potential partners and reviewing opportunities to seasonally reduce schedule between two or more carriers in common market.