Aviation AFRICA Summit and Exhibition returns to Kigali, Rwanda, after three years, for an event which promises to spotlight the many changes that have taken place to propel Africa towards its aviation vision – officially hosted by the Government of Rwanda, the Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority, RwandAir, and Rwanda Airports Company.
Under the theme “Collaborating to unlock Africa’s aviation growth”, the annual event brings together leaders from government, civil aviation authorities, airlines, airports, manufacturers, MRO providers and business aviation, plus suppliers from across the whole industry spectrum.
Speakers from across the industry, including CEOs of Africa’s leading airlines, will be sharing their plans – and concerns – at the event. Host airline, RwandAir’s chief executive, Yvonne Makolo, will be revealing her strategies for their development and growth, particularly in line with the new Kigali International Airport at Bugesera.
Upon completion, the airport will feature a 130,000-square-metre main terminal, capable of handling 8 million passengers annually, with potential expansion to accommodate over 14 million passengers in subsequent decades. Additionally, it will include a dedicated cargo terminal designed to manage 150,000 tonnes of cargo each year. Dar Al-Handasah (commonly known as DAR) has been a key player in the design, engineering, and project management aspects, and the company will be a platinum sponsor of the event, meeting supply chain representatives and discussing the development on stage.
Other airports from across Africa will be on stage to address infrastructure issues that have hindered projected growth. And this year, security – at airports and in the sky – comes under the spotlight.
This year’s Aviation AFRICA includes an in-depth look at advanced aviation mobility, with the collaboration of the African Drone Forum. It is hoped that a flying example of an eVTOL will be on display, while Ethiopian Airlines will be explaining more about its ambition to build an air taxi network in the region. Manufacturer Archer is planning to provide Ethiopian Airlines with a team of pilots, technicians, and engineers to support the initial deployment of the early launch edition Midnight aircraft in Ethiopia.
While regulators such as the RCAA have already introduced guidelines for the newest aviation models, regulators will also be present, including AFCAC Secretary General Adefunke Adeyemi, a panel of civil aviation DGs, and other industry specialists from ATM to examine some of the issues – including removing barriers to the SAATM initiative to open Africa’s skies.
The Airline Association of Southern Africa (AASA) CEO, Aaron Munetsi, will bring together a panel that spans the continent to address the geopolitical challenges – as well as internal frustrations – that hamper the growth of aviation.
“Collaboration is a critical success factor in the airline industry,” Munetsi said. How that applies in today’s world will be a key point in his session.
Safety, risk management, air traffic management, wildlife threats, sustainability, and, of course, MRO will be the focus of significant debate. With partnerships and support from organisations such as the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) and the African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA), speakers will address real issues through open discussion.
Aircraft manufacturers Airbus, Boeing and Embraer predict strong growth in African air travel and will be at the event to share their insights.
“The Aviation AFRICA Summit has developed into the most forthright and broad event for Africa’s aviation industry. Networking is superb, with many opportunities for suppliers to meet with customers and authorities,” said Summit Chairman Alan Peaford.
