Regional air company to be created

The civil aviation ministers of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central African states (CEMAC) have decided to create a regional air company that would provide both internal and international flights. At their meeting of 30 August in the Central African Republic (CAR) capital, Bangui, the ministers established a committee of experts chaired by Toby Kotazo, CAR Minister of Transport. "The mission of the committee is to find strategic partners, a name and a logo for the company, and to write a complete report to be submitted in December to the heads of state," Guy Blaise Ouaby, CAR director of civil aviation and meteorology and one of the experts, told IRIN. After the bankruptcy of Air Afrique, the subregion in general and CAR in particular have suffered serious problems of communication and commercial exchange. "CAR has major problems of communication, the investors cannot move when and where they wish, and commercial exchange is hindered," Ouaby said. Four international air companies, namely Air France, Cameroon Airlines, Sudan Airways and Benin Golf provide an international flight service to CAR, while domestic flights are provided by two local private companies, Minair and Via Air. The CEMAC company would provide flights both within the CEMAC zone and the exterior. "In the beginning we will rent planes," said Ouaby, who hoped that the company would become reality early next year.