Australian exporters are expected to have better access to the African market as new air services arrangements come into operation next year.
Federal infrastructure minister Anthony Albanese said the arrangements with the Republic of South Africa and Kenya will allow increased air services between two continents with less restrictions.
Open code-share arrangements will provide a boost to Australian and Kenyan airlines permitting daily services between the two countries, with the four major gateways of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth open for flight services.
The Australia-South Africa aviation market, which has been growing an average of 7.3 per cent over 2004-2007, is also expected to benefit from the arrangements, which will remove existing capacity constraints in the market.
The number of weekly frequencies available to Australian airlines for services to Johannesburg, Capetown and Durban will immediately double, with four more weekly services to be available from October 2009.
The changes will also allow for airlines of both sides to operate between Australia’s and South Africa’s regional international airports with unrestricted capacity.
“These new arrangements will enable Australian and African airlines to take advantage of the growing tourism and commerce opportunities between our countries,” Mr Albanese said.