Guy Leitch
The Aviation AFRICA Summit and Exhibition for 2024 was themed “Bridging Skies and Leveraging Growth.” Held in Johannesburg’s Sandton Convention Centre in September, it “exceeded expectations and set new milestones in aviation collaborations and innovation.”
With participation from 34 African countries, 1,200 delegates, 92 airlines and operators, and more than 100 exhibitors and sponsors, this year’s event was co-sponsored by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) who, together with Times Aerospace Events, united industry leaders for focused discussions on the future of aviation.
This event also marked the first co-location partnership with AfBAA (African Business Aviation Association), and this three-way partnership ensured industry leaders, airlines, regulators, airports, OEM’s and business aviation companies would come together and engage in aviation specific conversation for the future.
The summit was officially inaugurated by the SA Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy. In her keynote address Creecy highlighted the global aviation recovery with air passenger numbers, post the COVID-19 pandemic. “A strong aviation network is essential for boosting tourism in Africa. With its diverse landscapes, rich cultures, and vibrant cities, Africa has immense potential to attract international tourists,” Minister Creecy said.
Ms. Poppy Khoza, the Director of Civil Aviation at the SACAA, said: “Despite past social and humanitarian challenges, we are now a continent with great potential for growth on condition that we make use of the networks and collaborative opportunities in this and similar events.”
Summit Chairperson, Alan Peaford, opened the proceedings by honouring the late Nick Fadugba, former Chairperson of the African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA) and Secretary-General of the African Airlines Association, where Peaford acknowledged his contributions to aviation development across Africa.
Peaford said ”SACAA and AfBAA involvement helped us attract leaders from across the African industry and delegates from more than 70 countries. There was an open spirit of honest debate about the issues that are holding back Africa’s aviation industry from realising its true Potential.”
The event included a range of panel discussions and deliberations on key topics, such as:
- How Africa can ensure that it develops a skilled workforce to match its growth potential in the air and on the ground.
- Why challenges still exist to finance Africa’s aviation ambitions.
- Human Capital for sustainable Airport Projects.
- Adaptation to challenges on climate change, and many more.
A notable addition to this year’s instalment was the Insight Theatre, which operated concurrently in the Exhibition Hall, and where it facilitated robust debates on key aviation topics where two South African airlines, SAA and Airlink, presented their organisational strategic plans.
The event also highlighted significant industry announcements that included a strategic agreement between Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) and Global Air Navigation Services (GANS) to collaborate on various aspects of Air Traffic Management.
In closing, the official flag was passed on to the Republic of Rwanda’s Minister of Infrastructure, the Honourable Olivier Kabera, to designate the East African country as the next hosts for Aviation Africa 2025.
