INTRODUCTION TO AIRTRANSPORT

An Overview Perspective

1.0 WHAT IS AIR TRANSPORT?

Air Transport is the carriage of goods and passengers from one
geographical location to another through air medium by using aircraft
and other aerial equipments. Is One among modes of transport used for
movement of people and goods from one point to another. Other modes
being: rail, road, water, pipeline and walking.
Air Transport can be used interchangeably with Air Transportation, the
difference being that, the former is in British English words and the
later is in North American English. Since our syllabus is based in
British English words, then we shall adopt the term "Air Transport" for
the purpose of our study.
Air transport is divided into two branches. These are civil aviation and
military aviation.
1.1 Civil aviation
Deals with the activity or business of operating and flying aircrafts for
commercial purpose.
1.2 military aviation
Deals with the activity of operating and flying aircrafts for non
commercial purpose (i.e. it covers military and state operations). In this
module, we shall base on civil aviation and see how it is being managed
and regulated.
2.0 CHARACTERISTICS AND LIMITATIONS OF AIR TRANSPORT
2.1 Modal characteristics

Air Transport mode has its unique characteristics which make it different
from Other modes of fransport. Below are some of the most notable
characteristics of air transport mode.

It is the fasted mode of transport.

It is the most secure mode of transport.

1
v/ It is the safest of all modes of transport.
Scanned with CamSeanner
 s/ supportive to other sectors of the economy notably
tourism, horticulture and mining
v/ Widely. Used for search and rescue and human life saving
(flying doctors).
Its Importance for governance.
2.2 Modal limitations
Despite of the characteristics outlined above, yet, the mode has got
the following its share of disadvantages/ limitations:-.
It is highly regulated (both at National and International level),
this creates entry barriers.
v/ It is infrastructural driven. Thus, the mode can not operate
without infrastructure such as an-airports and other aerial
equipment’s.
Y/ .. It is by far the most expensive mode of transport, both
in terms of fare rates, equipment’s and infrastructure’s. It
is not affordable to most of the majorities.
It is limited to weather conditions. The presence of bad/ un
favorable weather such as fog, snow or heavy rain may cause
cancellation of scheduled flights and suspension of air
services.
v/ Its carrying capacity is very small and hence it is not suitable
for carriage of cheap and bulky goods.
3.0 AIRLINES

They are organizations or companies to trade or run air services on

commercial basis. Airlines use aircraft/ airplanes as equipment for trading.
Airlines can be categorized into domestic and cross border airlines
(international). Airlines can further be categorized as scheduled and non-
scheduled ones. Scheduled airlines are airlines that offer air services under
guided time tables. Non-scheduled airlines offer services depending on
demand of passengers or cargo. Examples of nonscheduled airlines are tour
operators that target tourists. Airline business is a capital intensive
undertaking in terms of the equipment

Scanned with CamSeanner

acquisition, labor and operations. Insurance and training are other areas
that need relatively huge funding.
In managing an airline, some key areas are critical for its survival. Critical
departments include engineering, finance, operations, marketing and legal.
3.1 National Airlines or National Carriers or National Flag Carriers
National airlines or national carries or national flag carriers have of late
acquired different meaning or concepts particularly after the invitation of
private sector (some from outside) into managing and funding of state
airlines. However, in all contexts, the fundamental issues are: They refer
to airlines hence "carries". They also refer to specific countries hence
"national". They carry distinct symbols of states painted in their tails
including state flags, hence "Flag Carriers" or "National Flag Carriers"
Hence national airlines or national carries or national flag carriers can be
defined as airlines operating internationally designated by states in which
they are registered.
3.1.1 ICAO's initial definition of National airlines and designation
criterion
Before liberalization era (the period before 1990s), airlines worldwide
used to be owned by Governments. ICAO's designation criterion for a
national airline was majority ownership of the airline by the state and
effective control of the Government or its citizens. In this case, an airline
was counted a national airline or national carrier IF AND ONLY IF the
majority of its ownership was under the Government or its citizens and
further, if the management and control including the Board of Directors
was under the citizens of the country. By then most countries had only
one airline designated for international operations and such airlines
obtained subsidies from Governments. They were highly protected in
terms of routes and fares. We may recall the era of Air Tanzania
Corporation, Air India, Lufthansa, Royal Swazi, Air Uganda, Zambian
Airways which used to fly to Dar es Salaam sometimes with empty seats.
3.1.2 ICAO's new definition of National Carrier
Following the need to get the participation of the private sector and in
particular for those states that find it difficult to start or run own airlines,
and in order to attract foreign capital ICAO recommended
3

Scanned with CamSeanner

States to adopt the "principal place of business" as an alternative
criterion for airline designation.
Thus a national carrier is defined as the airline through which the
ownership is by the Government or by the citizens of the country.
Further, an airline qualifies to be a national carrier if it is registered in
that State, pay taxes to the respective country and is regulated by civil
aviation authority of that state in question irrespective of its ownership.
In this context therefore a state can have one or more national airlines.
3.2 Roles of National Airlines
National airlines are important to states since apart from employment of
citizens, they bring in the country traffic from various points of origin to the
main base of operations before distributing it to its points of destination thus
provide the hub and spoke system which is critical for aviation growth and
sustainability in a country. National airlines also set standards for other
foreign airlines wishing to operate in a country and used to serve national
interests that private airlines may not be ready to do. In case of
emergencies national airlines are used for evacuation. National airlines also
provide a country with global recognition and prestige.
4.0 AIRPORTS
Airports are transport terminals that offer interchange from other
modes of transport to air transport; ie. road to air, rail to air, water or
walking to air. Airports can be categorized into domestic airports and
international airports. Domestic airports serve the domestic market
which is normally preserved for national airlines. They are regulated
by the local CAAs and are not subjected to stringent safety and
security regulations. International airports are the ones that handle inter
border passengers and cargo. They are subjected to international cross
border requirements like customs, police, migration, heath control etc,
4.1 Roles of airports
4.1.1 Airports as image of the country

Airports particularly international ones, serve as the image of a

country. Foreigners visiting a country will judge the status of the
country counting on what they see at the airports. Clean airports or
safe airports with clear signage or airports with good customer care
will give a positive
4

Scanned with CamSeanner

impression to visitors. Dirty and unfriendly airports may deter visitor from
saying long.
4.1.2 Airports as service centers
Airports are public service centers like ports, bus and rail terminals.
Airports may be needed to serve remote areas where other modes of
transport may not be suitable or not available. In such cases governments
may provide them as part of its Public Service Obligation.
4.1.3 Airports as Market Places or Business Centers
Airports act as market or business centers where trade can be
conducted. The businesses include bureau de change, banks,
supermarkets, hotels, bookshops, buy and fly and duty free shops.
Airports also act as recreational centers.
4.2 Layout of airports
Airports have two distinct areas namely airside and landside, Airside are
areas reserved for technical operations of the airport including runways,
aprons, fire and puffing bays. Entry to these areas is restricted to public.
Landside are areas where public access is allowed and normally open
for business including hotels/ shops and car park areas.
4.3 Source of Revenues for Airports
Airport operators derive their revenues from an-port charges levied to
passengers to cover the provision of key airport services. They include
take- off and landing charges, apron or parking charges and charges on
Passenger handling. Other sources of revenue include tax free shops,
office rents for airlines and other airport service providers, hotels and
restaurants-
4.4 Safety and Security at Airports
Safety and security are important ingredients in airport business. It is
the duty of the operator to ensure that airports comply with all safety
and security requirements. It is the duty of Governments to ensure
that
airports are safe and secure by providing appropriate policies, rules and
regulations and provide safety and security oversights.

Scanned with CamSeanner

 5
5.0 REGULATION OF AIR TRANSPORT
Regulation Era: 1944-1977
Regulation of air transport goes back to 1944 when the ICAO was
established in Chicago. At that time airlines were owned by States and
they were highly regulated with one airline from one state operating into
another (single designation) on reciprocity basis. Main reasons for
protection were serving the interests of Governments and the airlines
which were mostly referred to as Flag Carriers. Areas regulated included
fares, which were determined by Governments, routes to serve, type of
aircraft, capacity and frequencies to be offered. Governments met on
bilateral basis and agree on all matters related to cross border air services
on what is known as Bilateral Air Services Negotiations.
Regulation of air transport is on two areas: International and Domestic
Level
5.1 International Regulation
International regulation of air transport started in 1944 following the
establishment of the International Civil Aviation Organization —
ICAO. Fifty-two (52) states meet in Chicago in 1944 and adopted the
Chicago Convention. ICAO administers the implementation of
worldwide Standards and Recommendations (SARPS) in air transport.
Areas covered include Airport systems, Airline technical operations,
Air Traffic Control, aviation safety, aviation security and
environment.
International Regulations also cover Regulations on regional group of states
commonly referred to Regional or Sub Regional Organizations. Examples
of such Regional Organizations include the East African Community
(Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi) and Southern African
Development Community (Tanzania, Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi, DRC,
Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland,
Mauritius, Angola and Seychelles).
5.2 Domestic Regulations
Domestic regulations refer to rules and laws governing the management and
operations of civil aviation of individual state. The domestic regulation is
administered by local Civil Aviation Authorities and it covers airports,
airlines, aircraft maintenance organizations etc.

Scanned with CamSeanner

 6

5.3 Regulation on commercial areas

Regulation on the commercial areas especially the commercial
operations of airlines is done under Agreements concluded by States in
question after negotiations. The ICAO encourage states to a110W
commercial airlines to offer inter-border air services through what is
Commonly known as Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASAs).
ICAO also encourages Multilateral Air Services Agreements (MASAs)
in order to increase trade and investments. Ares covered during BASA
negotiations include: routes, frequencies, capacity, taxation etc.

Scanned with CamSeanner