African Pilot Weekly Magazine 28:2026
Aircraft Finance
The Keys to Securing Aircraft Finance in a More Expensive Global Market
Aircraft scarcity, rising lease rates and higher financing costs are making fleet growth more difficult. ACC Aviation Associate Director Tristan Brouard outlines the financial, operational and regulatory foundations African airlines need to secure aircraft finance.
The Keys to Securing Aircraft Finance in a More Expensive Global Market
Aircraft scarcity, rising lease rates and higher financing costs are making fleet growth more difficult. ACC Aviation Associate Director Tristan Brouard outlines the financial, operational and regulatory foundations African airlines need to secure aircraft finance.
Aircraft Finance
Eswatini–Togo Air Service Agreement Lays Groundwork for Future Passenger and Cargo Links
Eswatini and Togo have signed an air service agreement establishing the regulatory and economic framework for potential passenger flights, cargo services and trade-related air transport activities between the two countries.
Civil Aviation
Dar Signs Landmark Contract to Support the Transformation of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
Dar has signed a consultancy contract to provide design review and Project Management Consultancy services for the modernisation of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, extending its long-standing involvement in the transformation of Kenya’s premier international gateway.
Airport
Unpacking the African Development Bank’s US$7 Billion Integrated Aviation Transformation Programme
Unpacking the African Development Bank’s US$7 billion for aviation infrastructure, fleet modernisation and regulatory reform across Africa.
Speaking to African Pilot Magazine Editor Phillippa Dean during the inaugural African Air Transport Convention & Expo 2026 in Lomé, African Development Bank executives Marco Yamaguchi and Mike Salawou explain the financing model behind the Integrated Aviation Transformation Programme (IATP) for Africa.
The AfDB plans to act as a catalyst, using guarantees, blended-finance structures, development finance partnerships, institutional investment and private-sector capital to mobilise US$7 billion over five years. Support will not be restricted to national flag carriers. The programme is intended to assist both state-owned and private entities while encouraging greater competition and air transport liberalisation across Africa.
The discussion examines the programme’s three pillars:
- Policy, regulatory reform, safety, security, sustainability and skills development
- Aviation infrastructure, including airports, cargo terminals, MRO facilities, fuel production, sustainable aviation fuel, airport cities, surveillance systems and air-to-rail connections
- Aircraft acquisition, leasing and fleet modernisation
Salawou provides further insight into the planned Bishoftu International Airport in Ethiopia. The AfDB has been appointed mandated lead arranger and is seeking to mobilise approximately US$8.5 billion for the estimated US$12.5 billion project. Rail and road links between Bishoftu and Addis Ababa Bole International Airport are expected to form part of an integrated two-airport system.
The interview also covers the AfDB’s airport investments across Africa, support for the Single African Air Transport Market and the regulatory reforms required to expand passenger and cargo connectivity under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Africa’s Drone Economy Needs Paying Demand, Not More Demonstrations
Africa’s drone sector needs repeat customers, outcome-based procurement and sustainable operating margins to progress from demonstrations to commercial scale, according to Kim James.
Drone
Uganda Airlines Places First Boeing Order for 737 MAX and 787 Dreamliner Jets
Uganda Airlines has placed its first Boeing aircraft order, selecting four 737-8s and four 787-9 Dreamliners to expand and modernise its regional and international fleet.
African Airline
ASKY Adds Two Boeing 737 MAX 8 Aircraft Ahead of Lomé–Kano Launch
ASKY has expanded its fleet to 17 aircraft following the delivery of two new Boeing 737 MAX 8s, adding capacity for increased frequencies and the launch of its direct Lomé–Kano service on 5 August 2026.
Commercial Aviation
Air Seychelles Signs Lease Agreement with SMBC Aviation Capital for Two Airbus A321XLR Aircraft
Air Seychelles has signed a lease agreement for two Airbus A321XLR aircraft to support long-haul growth, network diversification and direct international connectivity.
Aircraft Leasing
Airline Emergency Response with Blake Emergency Services
What happens behind the scenes when an airline faces a major accident, cyberattack or operational crisis?
During AviaDev Africa 2026 in Gaborone, Dumi Sibandze, Director Africa for Blake Emergency Services, spoke to Phillippa Dean, Editor of African Pilot Magazine, about the specialised support the company provides to airlines during aviation-related emergencies and major operational disruptions.
Blake Emergency Services provides emergency response planning, business resilience and incident support to airlines and other industries across six continents. Its aviation services extend beyond aircraft accidents to include turbulence incidents, onboard deaths, unruly passenger events, cyberattacks, call centre failures and broader business continuity challenges.
Sibandze explains how the company supports airlines following major incidents, including establishing emergency call centres, assisting families, deploying teams to airline emergency control centres, supporting crisis communications and coordinating with local authorities and specialist service providers.
Acron Aviation and Deutsche Aircraft Sign Long-Term Partnership for Advanced Flight Recorder and Standby Solutions for the D328eco® Programme
Acron Aviation and Deutsche Aircraft have signed a long-term supply agreement covering 25-hour flight recorders and standby instrumentation for the D328eco programme.
Aircraft,
Advertisement
Civil Aviation
Aviation Training Must Build Operational Readiness, Not Just Qualifications
Alt Academy speakers outlined a training model focused on competence, practical assessment, reliable equipment and clearer pathways into aviation employment.
Aviation Training Must Build Operational Readiness, Not Just Qualifications
Alt Academy speakers outlined a training model focused on competence, practical assessment, reliable equipment and clearer pathways into aviation employment.
Civil Aviation
Bell Training Academy Hits Milestone Flight Hours
Bell Training Academy has passed 240,000 flight hours as Bell expands OEM-standard pilot and maintenance training through facilities in the United States, Europe and Asia.
Training & Skills Development
Advertisement
Bell Marks the Delivery of the 700th Bell 505 During Farnborough International Airshow
Bell delivered its 700th Bell 505 to a private VIP operator during Farnborough International Airshow 2026, marking a milestone for the light helicopter.
Rotary Wing
IATA Board Appoints Saadia Zahidi as Director General
Leadership
Saadia Zahidi will become IATA’s ninth Director General on 1 November 2026 and the first woman appointed to lead the association.
Burkina Faso Aviation Training Institute Advances Towards ICAO TRAINAIR PLUS Membership
Civil Aviation
Burkina Faso’s Institute of Aviation Training has completed an ICAO assessment with a compliance rate above 90%, moving it closer to TRAINAIR PLUS membership.
CCAA Pays FCFA 491 Million to Communities Affected by Bertoua Airport Expansion
Airport
Cameroon’s Civil Aviation Authority has paid FCFA 491,338,884 to 340 people affected by the Bertoua Airport expansion, enabling the authority to secure the enlarged airport site before construction begins.
Advertisement
New Pipistrel Voyager Brings Next Generation Training Capabilities and Access to Flight Schools
Pipistrel has introduced the Voyager, a two-seat training aircraft offering IFR capability, intentional spin certification, Garmin AXIS avionics and a 2027 service target.
Pilot Training
Continental Aerospace Technologies™ Increases Warranty Coverage for Certified AvGas Engines
Continental Aerospace Technologies has extended factory warranty coverage for eligible certified AvGas engine orders shipped on or after 20 July 2026.
Aircraft Engines
Turkish Airlines Signs Agreement with HAVELSAN for 12 Flight Simulation Training Devices
Turkish Airlines has signed an agreement with HAVELSAN for eight full-flight simulators and four flight training devices as it expands pilot training capacity.
Training & Skills Development
Honeywell Aerospace Expanding European Solutions for International Defence Market
Honeywell Aerospace reports growing European demand for Civitanavi Systems’ EU-built inertial navigation technology across defence programmes and platforms.
Military & Defence
ASKY’s Pan-African Growth Plan:
Visas, Blocked Funds, MRO and New Routes
In this African Pilot interview from AviaDev, Phillippa speaks with Daté Dovéné Tevi-Bénissan, Commercial Director of ASKY, about the realities shaping African airline growth.
The conversation covers the importance of easier movement between African countries, ASKY’s expanding network from Lomé, the airline’s fleet growth, the need for stronger cooperation between African carriers, and the operational challenges created by blocked funds, hard currency constraints and limited MRO capacity on the continent.
ASKY is currently operating 15 Boeing 737 aircraft across 30 African destinations, with two additional Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft expected to take the fleet to 17. The airline is also working to add Kano to its network and plans to expand by around two destinations per year from next year.
Tevi-Bénissan also discusses ASKY’s phased plan to build in-house MRO capability in Lomé, including technician training through Ethiopian Aviation Academy, with the aim of supporting both ASKY and regional airlines.
Key topics in this interview:
- African visa restrictions and passenger mobility
- ASKY’s fleet and network growth
- Intra-African connectivity and cooperation between airlines
- Blocked funds in African aviation markets
- Hard currency and dollar-denominated operating costs
- The need for more MRO capacity in Africa
- ASKY’s ambition to become a true Pan-African airline
- Future European operations
TAAG Angola Airlines on Hub Growth,
Fleet Renewal and African Connectivity
TAAG Angola Airlines is entering a new phase of growth, with its strategy built around Dr. António Agostinho Neto International Airport, regional expansion, fleet renewal and stronger connectivity between Angola, Africa and the world.
Speaking to African Pilot at AviaDev Gaborone 2026, Joelson Vasconcelos, Chief Commercial Officer at TAAG, discusses the airline’s strategic plan, its ambition to position Angola as a hub reference, and the role of Southern Africa, West Central Africa and long-haul markets in the airline’s network.
The conversation covers TAAG’s presence in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Windhoek, Maputo, Lagos, Abidjan, Accra, Dakar, Cape Verde, Lisbon, São Paulo and Guangzhou, as well as the airline’s approach to route development, sixth-freedom traffic, airport charges and operational discipline.
Vasconcelos also discusses TAAG’s Airbus A220 fleet, Boeing 787 Dreamliner operations and the continued role of the Boeing 777 on cargo-demand routes.
Africa World Airlines COO on E190s, Cargo and West African Connectivity
In this African Pilot interview from AviaDev 2026 in Gaborone, Phillippa Dean speaks with Sohail Mahmood, Chief Operating Officer of Africa World Airlines, about the airline’s next phase of growth from its Accra base.
Mahmood discusses Africa World Airlines’ decision to stay with Embraer, the planned introduction of two Embraer E190 aircraft in 2026, and the potential addition of a further eight E190s next year.
The conversation covers West Africa’s underserved aviation market, the need for reliable regional connectivity, growing demand driven by trade and logistics, and the importance of building effective corridor connectivity across the region.
Mahmood also outlines the airline’s route plans, including the expected return of Abidjan, planned services to Freetown and Monrovia, progress on Conakry through the Guinea BASA process, and possible additions, including Banjul and Dakar in early 2027.
Cargo is another key focus. Africa World Airlines is looking to redevelop its cargo department, with the Embraer E190 selected for both passenger capacity and stronger payload capability.
