The Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) is going to use its participation in the 2024 BRICS Business Summit to push for greater air connectivity between the BRICS countries. BRICS is the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa alignment (not alliance). ACSA is the State-owned company responsible for all but two of South Africa’s international, and most of the major domestic, airports.

The BRICS Business Summit includes, ACSA pointed out, an Aviation Working Group. The chairperson for this group was ACSA CEO Mpumi Mpofu. (There is also a Transport and Logistics Working Group.)

The Aviation Working Group is focused on air connectivity improvement initiatives between the BRICS countries and their surrounding regions. “This incorporates initiatives to strengthen the various elements in the aviation value chain including airport infrastructure, aircraft manufacturing, aircraft servicing, technical training and related industries,” stated the company.

ACSA will also continue to press for the creation of a Multilateral Air Service Agreement (MASA). Creating a MASA between the BRICS countries will catalyse trade, tourism and investment between the alignment’s member States, ACSA believes.

The 2024 BRICS Business Summit started on Thursday and will conclude on Sunday. It is being held in Moscow, in Russia, despite the current war and despite the fact that Moscow is within the range of Ukrainian attack drones.