By Elizabeth R. Auma K, Trade Policy Leader/Bridging Policy, People & Purpose/ Founder, Hearts&Trade

I got to a point where I dreaded flying more than taking a bus. Not because I do not love flying. I do. It makes me admire the clouds from a completely different angle. My reason for this change is that just when you think you are about to board, you hear something like: “ Airlines XXX regrets to announce the delay of flight XX to Entebbe or  Kigali or Harare or xxx”. Shortly afterward, another announcement follows:“We regret to announce the cancellation of flight XX to destination XXX.” And just like that, all your plans are thrown into disarray.

Now, here is the winner. I once needed to be at a particular destination by the following day. I searched for available flights, weighed my options, and finally settled on one. As soon as I had paid for my ticket, I received a message: “Sorry, your flight has been rescheduled.” I thought to myself: the quickest option is also becoming the most expensive, the most uncertain, and sometimes the most inconvenient.

I recently found myself contemplating taking a bus instead of a flight. Not because of the price, but because of the uncertainty. In those days, when we boarded a flight, we were treated like kings. Now, I sometimes wonder what changed. I do not want to look at this only from my point of view. I think about it from a trader’s perspective.

What happens to a trader who has booked a flight to meet a buyer? What happens to an entrepreneur traveling to attend an exhibition, negotiate a contract, or explore a new market? What options are available when the flight is delayed, canceled, or rescheduled? Can they simply take a bus? Will there be an alternative route? Will they arrive in time? What happens to the business opportunity they were traveling to pursue?

A missed flight may be an inconvenience to a traveler, but to a trader, it could mean a missed meeting, a lost contract, additional accommodation costs or an opportunity that may never come again. What other options are available to our traders when the quickest means of transport becomes the least predictable?

We speak about regional integration, market access and the free movement of people and goods. But how meaningful is market access if reaching that market remains expensive and unpredictable?