China and aviation in Africa: context, thrust, novelty. Issue 1 (2nd January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pirie, Gordon
• Is Part Of: African geographical review. Volume 39:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: 74
• Page End: 89
• Publication Date: 2020-01-02
• Subjects: China -- Africa -- airports -- airlines -- air routes; Africa -- Geography -- Periodicals; Africa -- Description and travel -- Periodicals; 916.005
• DOI: 10.1080/19376812.2019.1599294
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1937-6812

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Mainland China's involvement in African aviation is qualitatively and quantitatively different to participation by European, American and Persian Gulf countries. This paper contextualizes and outlines the Chinese emphasis on airport finance, design and construction on the continent; Chinese airline service is secondary (and Africa-dominated), and joint operational ventures are in their infancy. The prominence of one foreign country in airport provision in Africa, the recency of Chinese involvement, its pace, its price-tag, its conditionality, and minimal concurrent Chinese airline route building to and from Africa, fix the novelty and perhaps significance of Chinese involvement in African aviation.