Insights from the opening address of the State Minister for the Ministry of Transport and Logistics in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Hon. Mr Dhenge Boru Kosi.
Africa’s aviation sector is expanding rapidly, but its technical backbone remains underdeveloped. The imbalance between growth in passenger traffic and fleet expansion, and the continent’s limited MRO capability, is now a central constraint on sustainability and competitiveness.
A core issue is structural dependence. African airlines continue to rely heavily on overseas maintenance services, exporting billions of dollars annually. This is not limited to financial outflows. Each engine sent abroad for maintenance represents lost domestic value in the form of jobs, tax revenue, and technical capability development.
This dynamic exposes a broader paradox. While African aviation is among the fastest-growing globally and is advancing integration through frameworks such as the Single African Air Transport Market, its share of global air traffic remains marginal. More critically, technical self-reliance has not kept pace with operational ambition.
The supply chain disruptions experienced post-pandemic have further exposed vulnerabilities. Aircraft on ground scenarios, driven by delays in sourcing relatively low-value components, are operationally and economically untenable. This underscores the need for regional parts pooling, localised supply chains, and distributed maintenance capacity across the continent.
Human capital presents a parallel challenge. Africa produces highly skilled engineers, yet retention remains weak as global operators absorb this talent. Without harmonised certification frameworks, the mobility of skilled labour within Africa is restricted. A technician licensed in one country is not automatically recognised in another, limiting the development of a fluid, continental labour market.
Regulatory fragmentation compounds the issue. Multiple certification regimes across 54 countries create inefficiencies and prevent scale. Standardisation is essential, not only for safety and compliance but also to enable commercially viable MRO operations. Similarly, high airport charges and constraints on cross-border currency movement continue to inhibit airline performance and investment in local capability.
Reframing MRO as strategic infrastructure, rather than a discretionary service, is a necessary policy shift. Without this, capital flight will persist and local ecosystems will remain underdeveloped.
At the same time, the sector has an opportunity to bypass legacy constraints. Emerging technologies associated with Industry 4.0, including artificial intelligence, predictive maintenance, digital twins, and additive manufacturing, present a pathway to leapfrog traditional development cycles. The ability to anticipate component failure, optimise maintenance intervals, and locally produce parts could significantly reduce downtime and dependence on external suppliers.
Infrastructure development is beginning to align with this ambition. Ethiopia’s planned mega international airport at Bishoftu, designed to handle over 100 million passengers annually upon completion, is positioned as a continental asset. The integration of advanced MRO facilities within this hub, alongside existing aviation training capacity, signals a move towards building a scalable ecosystem that can serve broader African demand.
However, infrastructure alone is insufficient. The transition from potential to execution requires coordinated action. Airlines must prioritise regional partnerships over external dependency. Regulators must accelerate harmonisation and reduce administrative barriers. Investment must be directed towards building centres of excellence across multiple geographies rather than concentrating capability in isolated hubs.
The strategic direction is clear. Africa must shift from being a consumer of global MRO services to an active provider within the global aviation value chain. This transition will determine whether the continent captures the economic value generated within its own airspace or continues to externalise it.
