Free Route Airspace Launched in West and Central Africa. City, Country — Dakar, Senegal — The African Airlines Association (AFRAA) announced a significant advancement in African aviation with the full operational deployment of Free Route Airspace (FRA) in the Western and Central Africa (WACAF) region, effective 30 October 2025. This development, following successful trials since November 2023, will enable airlines to adopt more direct User Preferred Routes (UPRs), enhancing efficiency and sustainability.
According to Mr. Abdérahmane Berthé, AFRAA Secretary General, “The implementation of Free Route Airspace in the WACAF region is a game-changer for African aviation. By cutting flight times and fuel consumption, we are not only boosting the competitiveness and profitability of our airlines but also making a significant commitment to environmental sustainability.”.
The African Export — Import Bank (Afreximbank) has been a key supporter of the FRA initiative since its inception, aligning with the Global Air Navigation Plan of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the Africa-India (AFI) FRA Planning and Implementation Regional Group.
The WACAF airspace’s transition to UPRs has been facilitated by collaborative efforts between air operators and air navigation service providers (ANSPs), including the Agence pour la Sécurité de la Navigation Aérienne en Afrique et à Madagascar (ASECNA), Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), and others. Intra-African trade and tourism are expected to benefit significantly from the initiative, as Afreximbank’s Executive Vice President, Mrs.
Kanayo Awani, noted, “Efficient, safe, and well-regulated air services are critical to facilitating intra-African trade, tourism, and connectivity.”
The shift to UPRs is anticipated to generate substantial returns for participating airlines, including over 1,393 hours of cumulative flight time saved, cutting 5,000 metric tonnes of fuel burn, and avoiding some 16,000 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions. Starting 30 October 2025, any airline can plan and operate User Preferred Routes in the WACAF region.
The ANSPs have committed to approving newly requested UPRs within 48 hours, with the process expected to be further streamlined by mid-2026.
The success in WACAF is set to pave the way for similar initiatives in other regions, with a focus on the Eastern and Southern Africa (ESAF) airspace for 2026.
The African Airlines Association (AFRAA) envisions a sustainable, interconnected, and affordable Air Transport industry in Africa, where African Airlines become key players and drivers of economic development.
The African Export — Import Bank (Afreximbank) has been instrumental in supporting the transformation of Africa’s trade and promoting industrialization and intra-regional trade.
