Air traffic professionals are upbeat that the aviation industry will take off and cruise at the topmost height as the shocks of Covid-19 wither away.
Kenya Civil Aviation Authority director general Emile Nguza said the air travel industry is on the right path to its glory days as it recoups the gains it had lost due to the global pandemic that befell the world in 2020.
An optimistic Nguza said the agency has been recovering fast and will soon have more air traffic than before the pandemic.
While at it, the director general said that passenger safety remains a paramount consideration that cannot be compromised.
"This requires us to be prepared to put our best foot forward, and I am confident that our air traffic controllers are up to the task," he said.
Nguza was speaking during the 33rd International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers Association Africa and Middle East Regional Meeting, and marking 100 years of air traffic control and safety in the continent and the Middle East.
The three-day meeting was held at PrideInn Paradise Beach Resort and Convention Centre in Nyali constituency, Mombasa county.
The post-pandemic meeting comes at a time when the world is celebrating 100 years since the air traffic control profession was established.
He urged all the stakeholders in the aviation industry to embrace cooperation and goodwill to ensure continued success in its objective of efficiently managing air safety.
Further, Nguza said he was hopeful that the industry would thoroughly pick up and soon recover from the drawbacks of the pandemic.
"We will be having more air traffic than the number before the pandemic," he said.
The KCCA cheif said it had been an incredible journey marked by tremendous technological growth and the service's impact on the worldwide aviation system.
Speaking during the same forum, Air Navigation Services at KCAA director Ann Gitau said they are proud to offer the services to the aviation community by ensuring safe, secure and efficient air traffic service that facilitates air navigation for international air transport.
She added the regional meeting allows them to reflect on the journey of the Kenyan air traffic controller and passengers.
International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers Association executive vice president Fateh Bekht said airports should leverage new technologies to drive revenues and enhance the safety of passengers and air traffic controllers.
He said that new technologies could contribute substantially to the ability to grow capacity, improve air traffic controllers’ productivity, maintain maximum safety levels and ease the environmental impacts of air traffic.
(edited by Amol Awuor)
