Africa is expected to be one of the fastest growing regions in the world for international airline traffic through 2015, but its commercial aviation industry is lagging, according to a report in StandardMedia.

Twelve countries operate airlines that fly in and out of Africa compared to more than 26 in the 1980s and 1990s, the report said. African airlines have 20 percent of the intercontinental market share.

High industry costs, inadequate infrastructure at several airports, and lack of a single unifying negotiating body are among the challenges facing Africa’s aviation industry.

The African Airlines Association kicked off its annual general assembly today with calls  for changes in policies and increased participation by African governments to help address some of the challenges.

Other industry challenges include market access and liberalization; infrastructure development and cooperation; high fuel cost; insufficient qualified technical staff; inadequate investment in infrastructure to meet demand growth; inadequate resources to catch up with new technologies, and restrictive policies that hamper growth, expansion and competitiveness, according to StandardMedia.

But there is hope.

“Over the period 2010-2015, Africa will be one of the fastest growing regions in the world in terms of international traffic with an average growth rate of 6.1 percent compared to the global average of 5.8 percent,” said Elijah Chingosho, secretary general of the African Airlines Association.

The European Union’s move to ban certain African airlines is cause for concern, Chingosho said. “(The African Airlines Association) is opposed to the E.U. banned list, which is negatively painting all African airlines. We need the A.U. and African States to help reverse … ensuring a common African negotiating position since the E.U. negotiates as a block whilst African States negotiate individually.”

Poor performance of Africa’s aviation industry equated to the little benefit it gets from tourism compared to other continents, the report said.

U.N. World Tourism Organization figures show Africa and the Middle East had 5 percent of the 1.035 billion international tourism arrivals last year. Europe had the highest traffic at 52 percent, while America and Asia got 16 percent and 22 percent respectively, according to the figures released at the assembly.

The same report, however, shows that Africa had the second-highest growth tourist arrivals, with 3 million more arriving visitors than the previous year.

“Aviation provides dynamic support for businesses, trade, tourism, cultural and social activities, which significantly contribute to Africa’s economic growth and prosperity,” Chingosho said.