JOHANNESBURG, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- African countries have to free the airspace, address talent shortages, and work together to address challenges in the aviation sector, an African aviation practitioner said on Wednesday.

Ethiopian Airlines Regional Manager for Southern Africa Abel Yifru told Xinhua on the sidelines of the Meetings Africa, a pan-African business and trade show that kicked off Monday in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Noting that the aviation sector could be a "catalyst" for economic growth on the African continent, Yifru said there are still problems, such as a lack of connectivity and skilled manpower.

"We need to cultivate more skilled personnel such as pilots, engineers, and aircraft technicians, and catch up with the rest of the world in terms of infrastructure, communication systems, and accessibility to airports," said Yifru.

Ethiopian Airlines has established a university to train aviation personnel from Africa and around the world. It has also signed cooperation agreements with airliners across Africa to maintain their aircraft, according to Yifru.

"We have partnerships with different airlines. We also have a partnership with Chinese airlines to carry passengers and goods from Africa to China. African countries have to work together to fulfill regional and continental integration," Yifru said.

The African heads of state have decided to establish the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), a flagship project of the African Union Agenda 2063, to create a unified air transport market across the continent.

"The SAATM will address many challenges in the aviation sector in Africa, and improve intra-African trade, boost tourism under the African Continental Free Trade Area," Yifru said. Enditem

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