African ministers back coordinated air cargo corridors to boost continental trade

Ministers agreed to develop corridor-based air cargo routes aligned with AfCFTA value chains, targeting production hubs, industrial zones and key consumer markets to improve intra-African trade flows. Governments committed to closer cooperation between airlines, airports, regulators, trade bodies and financiers to strengthen cargo infrastructure, secondary city connectivity and data-driven route planning. The plan positions airfreight as a strategic trade enabler, with development partners and financial institutions expected to help fund and de-risk new cargo corridors across the continent. African ministers have agreed to intensify efforts to develop air cargo routes across the continent, aligning freight corridors with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in a move aimed at strengthening trade and industrial integration. The commitment was set out in the Lomé Ministerial Declaration adopted at the African Air Transport Convention and Expo 2026 in Togo, where governments backed plans to prioritise intra-African air cargo corridors linked to regional economic activity and supply chains. Ministers agreed to promote “corridor-based route development” as a central organising principle for airfreight expansion. The approach is intended to shift focus towards structured trade lanes connecting production hubs, agricultural export zones and manufacturing centres with key consumer markets across the continent. The declaration also calls for the identification and development of priority cargo corridors designed to support AfCFTA value chains. Officials say the aim is to improve the efficiency and reliability of freight movement, while supporting the growth of intra-African trade in goods that require fast or time-sensitive transport. African governments further pledged to strengthen cooperation between airports, airlines, cargo operators, aviation regulators, trade authorities, development finance institutions and private investors. The coordinated approach is intended to address long-standing constraints in the sector, including limited infrastructure, weak route sustainability and fragmented demand planning. According to the declaration, closer collaboration will be required to support sustainable route development, expand cargo infrastructure, and improve market development across the continent. It also highlights the importance of secondary city connectivity, suggesting that future cargo growth will depend not only on major hubs but also on smaller and mid-sized urban centres with emerging industrial capacity. Ministers also placed emphasis on improving data sharing and commercial coordination across the sector. Officials say better integration of trade and logistics data could help airlines and cargo operators identify viable routes and respond more effectively to shifting demand patterns. The declaration links air cargo development directly to broader AfCFTA objectives, which aim to create a single market for goods and services across Africa. By aligning logistics planning with trade policy, governments hope to reduce bottlenecks that have historically limited the scale of intra-African commerce. Airfreight has long been underdeveloped in Africa relative to demand potential, partly due to high operating costs, limited infrastructure investment and regulatory fragmentation. Many routes have struggled to achieve commercial viability without some form of government or donor support. The new framework also signals a more interventionist approach to route development, with development partners and financial institutions expected to play a greater role in financing and de-risking new cargo corridors. This includes support for infrastructure upgrades such as cargo terminals, air navigation systems and digital logistics platforms. Secondary city connectivity is expected to be a key area of focus. Many of Africa’s fast-growing industrial and agricultural regions are located outside traditional aviation hubs, but lack consistent airfreight links to regional and international markets. Officials believe targeted investment could unlock significant untapped trade flows. The declaration also points to the importance of strengthening commercial partnerships between public and private actors. This includes cooperation on route planning, cargo consolidation, and the development of more predictable operating environments for logistics providers.