The 75th ACI Africa Conference in Luanda has positioned aviation at the centre of Africa’s economic and integration agenda, with Angola using the platform to call for concrete action to address structural imbalances limiting the continent’s aviation potential.
Speaking at the opening, Angola’s Minister of State for Economic Coordination, José de Lima Massano, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to modernising and integrating the aviation sector, highlighting its role in economic diversification, competitiveness, and connectivity between African and global markets.
Angola’s Minister of Transport, Ricardo Viegas D’Abreu, underscored the disparity between Africa’s population and its share of global air traffic, describing it as a reflection of limited connectivity and a broader continental challenge requiring coordinated action. He called for the implementation of the African Single Air Transport Market, emphasising that integration, scale, and competitiveness are essential for sustainable aviation growth.
The conference also highlighted the need for structured financing, sustainable airport operations, and stronger partnerships to align with international standards. Angola positioned itself as a strategic connectivity hub, supported by ongoing investments in airport infrastructure and logistics corridors linking Africa with Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas.
Bringing together representatives from 37 countries and more than 80 companies, the conference reinforced the role of ACI Africa as a platform for collaboration, capacity building, and advancing connectivity, sustainability, and competitiveness across the continent’s airport sector.
