• Russia is developing aviation in Africa and strengthening its cooperation with countries like Ethiopia and Tanzania through new air service agreements.
• The agreements aim to improve air transport services, boost trade, and ensure flight safety standards.
• Russia and Tanzania negotiated a new Bilateral Air Services Agreement to enhance their aviation ties. The agreement grants designated airlines access to multiple entry points in both countries and includes provisions for codesharing and fifth freedom traffic rights.

Russia has agreed to develop aviation in Africa and is boosting its cooperation with African states, including Ethiopia and Tanzania, by signing new air service agreements. Russian authorities met with various African stakeholders at the second Russia-Africa summit in St Petersburg.

Russia-Ethiopia aviation development

During the summit, Russia’s Deputy Minister of Transport Igor Chalik and Ethiopia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs signed an agreement to develop the air transport line between the two countries. The states previously had an air communication agreement dated March 26, 1977, which will be terminated under the new deal.

The newly signed agreement aims to establish efficient regular air transport services between Russia and Ethiopia, to boost trade and economic development. Additionally, it includes enacting legislation regarding national carriers, recognition of airworthiness certificates, and cooperation in ensuring flight safety standards in line with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.

Ethiopia’s flag carrier Ethiopian Airlines, already has a regular service to and from Russia. It operates four weekly non-stop flights from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) to Moscow Domodedovo (DME) with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Conversely, no Russian carriers are operating flights on this route.

Agreement with Tanzania

Russian authorities have also negotiated a new deal with Tanzania to strengthen their aviation ties and rejuvenate air transport activity in the post-pandemic era. Following a successful meeting in Moscow, the two governments negotiated a new Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA), noting that the previous ones had been severely affected by the pandemic.