Table 1: Summary of Issues Discussed in the Panel Discussions and Presentations

Opportunities and challenges as Zambia Airways (2014) Limited transitions into the AfCFTA:

• Zambia Airways (2014) Limited is now fullyresurrected and there are a lot of opportunities with a new business paradigm

• Zambia Airways (2014) Limited is set to facilitate trade between Zambia and the rest of COMESA and SADC regions

• Lusaka’s geographical location is ideal for aviation business (as hub) as it lies within 1’000 nautical miles of 11 regional capitals

• Zambia Airways (2014) Limited is looking to increase traffic from Zambia to the region and vice versa

• Volume is the greatest challenge (essentially economies of scale)

LCCI is advocating for Lusaka to become an investment and trade hub. However, quality of customer service is key to making Lusaka more attractive and ideal

• There is need to bring more passengers to the airline

• Company requires incentives to the travelling public (such as incentives for first-time passengers with the airline)

Livingstone has one domestic flight per day, while Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe receives five domestic flights. With this scenario, how is Zambia going to develop and grow tourism?

• Livingstone’s throughput is on the lower side than Victoria Falls due to existing tourism market dynamics Are costings favourable in terms of passenger and cargo coming into and going out of Zambia?

• Industry goal is to ensure that everyone is entitled to affordable fees and rates

• Cost of the airfare is affected by external fundamentals (several taxes are charged)

• Fewer flights go into Mfuwe International Airport (MIA)

• LCCI is ready to assist the aviation sector in order to improve customer service provision

• ZACL has an ongoing programme of skills development or skills improvement for airport frontline staff

ZACL is looking at the possibility of collaborating with stakeholders to effectively market Livingstone as an ideal tourism destination

• Stakeholders such as Ministry of Tourism (MoT), Zambia Tourism Agency (ZTA), Tourism Council of Zambia (TCZ))

Zambian authorities should consider coming up with targeted airline incentives in order to grow and increase passenger and cargo traffic and numbers

• Tax regime should be looked into by the Government

• Benchmark fuel utilisation and sustainable fuel consumption