More than two decades after African countries agreed to liberalise air travel, the continent's skies remain among the least connected in the world. Despite repeated commitments to create a single aviation market, passengers still face expensive airfares, limited direct flights and long travel routes that often require connecting through destinations outside Africa. The vision dates back to 1999, when African states adopted the Yamoussoukro Decision, an agreement aimed at opening air routes, increasing competition and lowering ticket prices. Although it became legally binding in 2002, implementation has been slow and uneven. To accelerate progress, the African Union launched the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) in 2018 under Agenda 2063. While more countries have since signed on and some new intra-African routes have emerged, experts say the continent remains far from achieving a truly liberalised aviation market