( CNN ) -- Africa has the second largest population of any continent but only accounts for 3 % of global air traffic . The reasons for taking such a small share of the aviation market have been the same for decades : poor infrastructure , stalled liberalization , high taxes and fuel charges . It also struggles with a lack of routes linking cities , a lack of regular flights flying them and a lack of profitable airlines competing . However with the GDP of sub-Saharan countries expected to grow almost 6 % this year , according to the World Bank , there is still the belief that aviation can really take-off . `` The infrastructuure is improving , which was one of the key issues , '' says Alexandre de Juniac , CEO of Air France . `` Airports , air traffic control , civil aviation regulations everywhere , they are improving , there are many programs coming from international organizations and there is an enormous need for air traffic coming directly from the economic growth . '' Read more : Are airline loyalty schemes worth it ? The need for improved air travel across the continent is clear to many in the industry , where there are glaring gaps between growing economic centers . A flight between Cape Town in South Africa and Lagos , Nigeria , the second fastest growing city in Africa , should take six hours . Yet with no direct flights , the cheapest option via the Middle East takes up to 25 hours while the faster , yet more expensive routes within Africa still take ten hours . Often governments have been blamed for protecting their national carriers and refusing to deregulate the industry and open up the skies to greater competition . While South Africa has a number of liberalization agreements , its government agrees that more needs to be done . `` There is a number of constraints in different countries , with regard to policies , with regards to the regulatory environment ... but in terms of the decisions themselves , we have taken the right ones , '' says Malusi Gigaba , South Africa 's minister for public enterprise . `` Of course , you already have more foreign airlines flying in Africa than African airlines ... . but we would like to see even greater cooperation between these African airlines . '' Kenyan Airways is one airline that is taking note . It recently suggested a merger with other local aviation big-hitters , South African Airways and Ethiopian Airways . Read more : Thefts on planes on the rise . `` We ca n't go on the way we have , we have got to start consolidating , '' says Titus Naikuni . `` We 've all been talking to each other . I do n't know if you call it a merger or whatever , ( but it is ) to avoid a situation where we 're running two aircraft side by side at 50 % capacity . '' If there 's a criticism , it is that it is creating less competition on a continent that is crying out for more . The real winners so far have been international carriers , particularly from the Middle East , that now make up almost 60 % of intercontinental traffic to and from Africa . Etihad Airways has routes from Abu Dhabi to major cities in Nigeria , South Africa , Kenya and North African countries and then partners with domestic airlines to reach second and third tier cities . `` What we are doing is complementing each others networks ... they can take us into 26 points in Africa they we 'll never touch , '' says James Hogan , CEO of Etihad Airways . The greatest test to come then is if the quality of the air links outside the major hubs match the international routes . That will prove if African aviation can ever truly live up to its potential .
African airlines looking to code-share agreements to improve network . Only 3 % of global air travel is from Africa . More international airlines fly to and from African than African airlines .