African aviation’s profitability gap, fragmented markets and connectivity constraints took centre stage in Johannesburg this week as AFRAA and South African Airways convened the 14th Aviation Stakeholders Convention under the theme “Resilient African Aviation: Partnerships – Empowerment – Profitability.”
AFRAA and South African Airways Convened Industry Leaders at the 14th Aviation Stakeholders Convention to Chart the Continent’s Resilient Growth Agenda
The Convention was officially opened by the Guest of Honour, Ms Barbara Creecy, MP, Minister of Transport of the Republic of South Africa, who underscored the Government’s commitment to positioning South Africa and the broader continent as a leading force in global aviation.
In his welcome address, Mr Abdérahmane Berthé, Secretary General of AFRAA, set a candid and strategic tone, acknowledging that African aviation continues to operate in a highly complex and uncertain global environment. He noted that geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, currency pressures, rising operating costs, infrastructure gaps and aircraft availability constraints continue to place significant pressure on carriers.
Mr Berthé reminded delegates that the continent’s fragmentation across 54 states, multiple regulatory frameworks and hundreds of restrictive bilateral air services agreements makes collaboration among stakeholders not optional, but existential. He called on governments to treat aviation as an economic multiplier rather than a tax base, and urged the industry to prioritise the development and retention of African aviation professionals, including pilots, engineers, safety managers and commercial managers. He warned that a resilient African aviation industry cannot be built on talent trained only to be lost to other regions.
“The question is no longer whether Africa will grow, but whether African aviation will be sufficiently prepared and positioned to capture that growth sustainably and remain competitive. Survival is not the ambition. The ambition is to build an African aviation industry that connects this continent affordably and safely,” Mr Berthé stated.
Mr Matshela Seshibe, Acting CEO of South African Airways and host of this year’s Convention, welcomed delegates to Johannesburg, Africa’s leading aviation, financial and industrial hub. He emphasised the importance of continental unity in the current operating environment, noting that “collaboration is no longer optional for African aviation, it is essential for survival, sustainability and long-term competitiveness.”
Captain George Kamal, Acting Group CEO of Kenya Airways and Chairman of the AFRAA Executive Committee, and Mr Kamil Al-Awadhi, Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East at IATA, also addressed the gathering. Both called for accelerated liberalisation, infrastructure investment and cross-industry collaboration to narrow the gap between Africa’s aviation demand and its realised connectivity.
A Critical Moment for African Aviation
Despite Africa’s impressive passenger growth, the continent’s airlines are forecast to generate a collective net profit of just US$200 million in 2026, representing a margin of 1.3%, or US$1.30 per passenger, compared with a global average of US$7.90.
The Convention’s programme addressed this profitability gap through high-level plenaries, panel discussions, masterclasses and B2B sessions focused on structural solutions, including fleet optimisation, hub competitiveness, digital transformation, sustainable financing and the opening of new markets.
The opening session, titled “Resilient Growth in a Fragmented Aviation Landscape,” set the tone for the Convention by addressing global uncertainty, geopolitical risks, regulatory divergence and infrastructure constraints, while positioning Africa as the next frontier for aviation growth.
Programme Highlights
The Convention was preceded on Sunday, 17 May, by a series of AFRAA Committee Meetings, reinforcing the association’s role as the primary platform for operational coordination among African carriers. The AFRAA Distribution Committee, Technical Operations & Training Committee, and Route Network Coordination & Cargo Committee each convened in closed session, allowing member airlines to align on key industry priorities under the mandate of the committees.
These working-level forums reflected AFRAA’s commitment to translating high-level policy dialogue into concrete, practical collaboration across the aviation value chain.
Also on the eve of the Convention, a dedicated consultative session was held for airline executives on the critical subject of fleet selection, acquisition and financing preparation. Facilitated by Mr Raphael Haddad, President of Jetcraft Commercial, the session offered senior airline leaders a frank and practical guide to navigating one of African aviation’s most complex challenges.
Drawing on market data and real-world transaction experience, Mr Haddad walked participants through a strategic framework covering network-driven fleet planning, the trade-offs between new and pre-owned aircraft, the full acquisition process from business case to delivery readiness, and the range of financing structures available to African carriers, including the role of regional development finance institutions.
The session underscored that disciplined fleet strategy, combined with sound financing preparation, remains one of the most powerful levers available to African airlines seeking to convert the continent’s extraordinary growth potential into sustainable profitability.
Over three days, the Convention featured industry leader keynote interviews with African airline CEOs on growth and sustainability; panel discussions on market access, environmental sustainability, smart travel technology and structural profitability; presentations on air connectivity, aviation hub competitiveness, space weather risk management, digital payments and air cargo as an economic catalyst; and masterclasses on airline loyalty strategies, fleet lifecycle management and airspace safety.
The programme concluded with the 3rd African Aviation Safety & Operations Summit on 20 May, organised in partnership with the Flight Safety Foundation.
About the Convention
Now in its 14th edition, the Aviation Stakeholders Convention is AFRAA’s flagship annual business and policy engagement platform. It convenes top executives from airlines, civil aviation authorities, airports, air navigation service providers, OEMs, financiers and technology firms to shape policy dialogue, forge commercial partnerships and showcase solutions that advance African aviation.
The 2026 edition was hosted by South African Airways in Johannesburg from 17–19 May 2026 under the high patronage of the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of South Africa. The event was held back-to-back with the 3rd African Aviation Safety and Operations Summit, which took place from 19–20 May 2026 at the same venue.
