RwandAir CEO Yvonne Manzi Makolo is urging African governments to actively implement the continent’s open-skies agenda, proposing a “coalition of the willing” focused on measurable results. Priorities include reducing airfares, improving connectivity and releasing blocked airline funds. Only 19% of intra-African city pairs have direct flights, while about $774 million in airline revenues remained blocked as of March 2026. Makolo also called for stronger airline cooperation and better alignment between SAATM and the African Union’s Free Movement Protocol.