At the recent Aviation Africa 2025 summit in Kigali, African Pilot Magazine editor Phillippa Dean sat down with IATA’s Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, Kamil Al-Awadhi.
The discussion explores Rwanda’s collaborative approach to aviation development, the country’s strong aviation business case, and the significant GDP contribution of the sector. Kamil highlights challenges facing African airlines, including high fuel prices, landing fees, and operational costs, as well as the need for greater regulatory alignment and collaboration among stakeholders.
The conversation also addresses safety compliance, inter-African connectivity, air cargo opportunities, and the importance of governments and operators working together to achieve sustainable aviation growth. IATA’s mission is to drive safe, sustainable aviation worldwide and calls on African states to collaborate to unlock the full potential of aviation for the continent.
