Meeting in plenary session on 22 December 2025, Chad’s National Assembly overwhelmingly adopted the bill ratifying twelve bilateral air services agreements. The text was approved unanimously by all votes cast, with 164 in favor, none against and no abstentions, reflecting broad political consensus on the strategic importance of civil aviation for the country.
A Strategy for Opening Up and Economic Growth
Presented and defended by the Minister of Transport, Civil Aviation and National Meteorology, Fatima Goukouni Weddeye, the bill is part of a broader vision aimed at improving Chad’s connectivity, reducing the isolation of certain regions and supporting socio-economic development. For a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central Africa and the Sahel, air transport remains a critical lever for territorial integration, trade and people-to-people exchanges.
The ratified agreements were concluded with several strategic partners, including Saudi Arabia, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates and South Africa. They establish a secure and balanced legal framework aligned with international standards, based on the principles of reciprocity and sovereignty enshrined in the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation.
Through these agreements, Chadian authorities intend to capitalize on the country’s central geographic position and lay the foundations for a sub-regional airport hub capable of capturing part of the air traffic flows linking North Africa, West Africa, Central Africa and the Middle East.
A Lever for Trade, Tourism and Logistics
Beyond their diplomatic dimension, the agreements are designed to tangibly strengthen Chad’s air connectivity. They provide in particular for the facilitation of direct flights, reciprocal authorization for airlines, recognition of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) safety standards, and a fiscal framework consistent with international norms.
For players in trade, logistics and supply chain management, an improved air transport offering is a major asset—especially for high-value cargo, perishable goods and business travel. The development of both passenger and cargo traffic is also seen as a catalyst for tourism growth and foreign investment.
Airfares and a National Airline: Government Responses
Questioned by members of parliament on the high cost of air tickets and the need to develop a national fleet, Minister Fatima Goukouni Weddeye recalled that air transport costs depend on multiple factors, including the level of competition and taxation.
She nonetheless reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting existing private initiatives, while maintaining the strategic objective of establishing, in the medium term, a strong national airline capable of sustainably carrying Chad’s ambitions on regional and international markets.
With the ratification of these twelve bilateral agreements, Chad is sending a clear signal to airlines, investors and international partners: the country intends to further open its skies to Africa and the world, modernize its regulatory framework, and make air transport a cornerstone of its economic and logistics development.
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