Join host Jon Howell, Founder and CEO of AviaDev Africa, joined by Regular Guests and Aviation Consultants, Sean Mendis and Behramjee Ghadially as they dive into the latest developments in African aviation.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro and live welcome

03:49 Uganda Airlines Boeing order and delivery timeline

07:56 Ethiopian Airlines ready to choose its regional jet? Could it be the Max 7?

17:51 Etihad's Africa partnership signing tour with Africa World Airlines, fastjet and Air Peace and broader interline strategy

26:24 AWA's Abidjan launch and market dynamics

36:57 Emirates cuts new Ghana frequencies after 3 days

41:00 Ethiopian Airlines continued network expansion Mauritius upgraded to 787, Maldives BASA with 5th freedoms, increasing LOS to 3x daily, increasing Chengdu

54:42 China Southern to serve Addis from CAN/CSX

59:26 Turkish Airlines adds JNB/CPT frequencies

01:08:39 Air Zimbabwe launches Gatwick

01:16:53 Fastjet Zimbabwe's A320 wet lease from Global

01:22:11 FlySafair ownership update

01:25:51 Airlink's new 2-class E2 deliveries (first in July, second in Aug), HLA-HRE from December, filed for CPT-NBO/JNB-MRU/JNB-JRO

01:37:26 Namibia Air proposed launch

01:46:55 ASKY's expansion and continued fleet growth

01:52:32 Air Côte d'Ivoire drops Johannesburg before launch

01:53:38 Air Congo's Brussels and Paris strategy

01:56:20 CAA Congo launches Luanda or does it?

01:58:01 Seychelles' x 2 Airbus A321XLR order

02:01:52 IndiGo's route changes and Mumbai-Dar es Salaam plans

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe for more African aviation insights and network strategy analysis.

Topics discussed: * African aviation route development * Airline network strategy * Long-haul and intra-African connectivity * Fleet planning and aircraft deployment * Market demand, yields, and fifth freedom traffic * New route announcements and capacity changes

If you follow African aviation news, airline route launches, airport connectivity, and network planning, this episode is for you.

#Aviation #AfricaAviation #AirlineNews #RouteDevelopment #AviaDev #Airlines

Join host Jon Howell, Founder and CEO of AviaDev Africa, joined by Regular Guests and Aviation Consultants, Sean Mendis and Behramjee Ghadially as they dive into the latest developments in African aviation.

Sign up to the mailing list https://www.aviadev.com/keep-me-updated

TOPICS:

0:00 Introduction and welcome

3:27 Uganda Airlines' Mega Boeing order and fleet rebuild

15:42 London Gatwick to Harare to finally be served? Air Zimbabwe looking to deploy a wet leased aircraft, but when?

28:05 TUI's new Gatwick–Zanzibar route for Winter 2027.

40:17 Emirates to add four additional weekly flights to Accra

48:48 Kenya Airways network cuts. Douala and Abidjan impacted, plus deploying the B777 on a domestic route

57:33 Airlink's exclusive Cape Town–Mauritius announcement from AviaDev, deploying the Embraer E2

01:08:02 TAAG Angola's management changes as they launch Luanda–Guangzhou and receive clearance for the 787-9 from EASA

01:20:30 Air Peace's ambitious intra-Africa growth plans, approvals to launch Brazil and could Manchester be this year's new route of the year?

01:31:57 ASKY's intra-African network adjustments

01:37:41 Air Tanzania's Muscat service and 787 deployment on Cape Town

01:40:49 Discover, Edelweiss, and Condor's Namibia capacity growth

Topics discussed:

• African aviation route development
• Airline network strategy
• Long-haul and intra-African connectivity
• Fleet planning and aircraft deployment
• Market demand, yields, and fifth freedom traffic
• New route announcements and capacity changes

If you follow African aviation news, airline route launches, airport connectivity, and network planning, this episode is for you.

#AfricanAviation #AviaDev #AirlineNews #AviationNews #RouteDevelopment #AirlineStrategy #ConnectivityUpdate #UgandaAirlines #AirZimbabwe #Emirates #KenyaAirways #Airlink #AirPeace #ASKY #AirTanzania #Namibia

Join host Jon Howell, Founder and CEO of AviaDev Africa, joined by Regular Guests and Aviation Consultants, Sean Mendis and Behramjee Ghadially as they dive into the latest developments in African aviation.

Sign up to the mailing list https://www.aviadev.com/keep-me-updated

TOPICS:

0:00 Introduction and welcome

3:27 Uganda Airlines’ Mega Boeing order and fleet rebuild

15:42 London Gatwick to Harare to finally be served? Air Zimbabwe looking to deploy a wet leased aircraft, but when?

28:05 TUI’s new Gatwick–Zanzibar route for Winter 2027.

40:17 Emirates to add four additional weekly flights to Accra

48:48 Kenya Airways network cuts. Douala and Abidjan impacted, plus deploying the B777 on a domestic route

57:33 Airlink’s exclusive Cape Town–Mauritius announcement from AviaDev, deploying the Embraer E2

01:08:02 TAAG Angola’s management changes as they launch Luanda–Guangzhou and receive clearance for the 787-9 from EASA

01:20:30 Air Peace’s ambitious intra-Africa growth plans, approvals to launch Brazil and could Manchester be this year’s new route of the year?

01:31:57 ASKY’s intra-African network adjustments

01:37:41 Air Tanzania’s Muscat service and 787 deployment on Cape Town

01:40:49 Discover, Edelweiss, and Condor’s Namibia capacity growth

Topics discussed:

• African aviation route development
• Airline network strategy
• Long-haul and intra-African connectivity
• Fleet planning and aircraft deployment
• Market demand, yields, and fifth freedom traffic
• New route announcements and capacity changes

If you follow African aviation news, airline route launches, airport connectivity, and network planning, this episode is for you.

#AfricanAviation #AviaDev #AirlineNews #AviationNews #RouteDevelopment #AirlineStrategy #ConnectivityUpdate #UgandaAirlines #AirZimbabwe #Emirates #KenyaAirways #Airlink #AirPeace #ASKY #AirTanzania #Namibia

This episode explores how Washington Dulles International Airport is positioning itself as a key gateway between Africa and the United States.

Featuring insights from Ariana McKnire, Director of Airline Business Development, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, the discussion covers route development, market opportunities, and the strategic importance of Washington's demographic and geographic advantages in African aviation connectivity.

CHAPTERS

00:00 - Introduction to Washington Dulles as a US-African gateway

01:38 - Demographics and market size in Washington DC

05:09 - Business climate and travel demand

08:31 - Focus on unserved routes and development prospects

12:21 - Connecting unserved African markets

14:52 - South African Airways' re-entry plans

16:46 - AviaDev and strategic partnerships

19:10 - Ariana's approach to route development

20:12 - Airport and airline collaboration for connectivity

21:15 - Final thoughts and upcoming events

Resources & Links:

Aviadev Africa: www.aviadev.com

Airbus Market Analysis Report https://www.airbus.com/en/about-us/our-worldwide-presence/airbus-in-africa-and-the-middle-east/airbus-in-africa

Washington Dulles International Airport https://www.mwaa.com/

Connect with Ariana

In this episode of the AviaDev Insight Africa podcast, we delve into the strategies African airports can adopt to enhance non-aeronautical revenues and attract investment.

Save the below infographic for more insights and join us at AviaDev in Botswana for further discussions.

Hosted by Jon Howell, this episode features insights from Nelly Alandou, Jody Appollis, and Adam Ekman Pedersen of the NACO team.

Discover how African airports can diversify revenue streams and become economic hubs.

Chapters:

0:00 - Introduction

01:21 - Meet the NACO Team

02:42 - Revenue Stream diversification

04:17 - Non-Aeronautical Revenue opportunities for airports

06:18 - Real Estate Opportunities for Airports

08:28 - Economic Feasibility and Investment

11:15 - Network Positioning and Connectivity

14:37 - Land Use Planning Challenges

17:23 - Governance and Economic Infrastructure

22:26 - Upcoming Aviadev Panel Discussion

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe, and share to help spread the word about the rising opportunities in African aviation.

CONNECT WITH JODY

CONNECT WITH ADAM

CONNECT WITH NELLY

Welcome to the May 2026 AviaDev Connectivity Update! Join host Jon Howell, Founder and CEO of AviaDev Africa, joined by Regular Guests and Aviation Consultants, Sean Mendis and Behramjee Ghadially as they dive into the latest developments in African aviation.

TOPICS:

00:00 - Introduction and Overview

01:28 - Virgin Atlantic doubles down on South Africa

04:16 - KLM quietly grows Cape Town capacity

08:43 - South African Airways: new CEO, fresh cuts

16:56 - Airlink launches Cape Town–Zanzibar nonstop

25:27 - Turkish Airlines slashes African routes

35:43 - Qatar Airways' Return to Africa

39.24 - Air Tanzania's big ambitions

51:58 - Uganda Airlines' Operational Challenges

58:43 - Kenya Airways: what's new and next?

66:05 - Jambojet's low-cost regional push

76:16 - Air Botswana's Operational Issues

81:57 - Africa World Airlines eyes Conakry

83:54 - Ethiopian Airlines expands globally/ Air Congo's rapid expansion in the DRC/ Malawi Airlines adds Lubumbashi

93:49 - Air Peace cuts long-haul, buys narrowbodies

103:28 - United Nigeria eyes Johannesburg (exclusive)

106:29 - Air Côte d'Ivoire's Johannesburg Route

In the 30th edition of the AviaDev Africa Connectivity Update, host Jon Howell is joined by usual guests, Aviation Consultants Sean Mendis and Behramjee Ghadially to review the biggest stories impacting African aviation

00:00 Welcome

02:33 Africa Market Pulse and impacts of the Iran War

13:12 Etihad's 6 new routes for Africa. Behramjee's take

24:22 Sean's take on Etihad's expansion

42:48 Uganda Airlines fleet and route update

46:28 SalamAir's new routes to Kigali and Mogadishu

52:16 ASKY Hints at a new Route

01:00:01 Turkish Airlines Boosts Mauritius frequencies

01:04:30 Ethiopian Eyes Mauritius

01:07:04 Air Tanzania to Seychelles update and reflections

01:10:46 Ethiopian increases Moscow service and firms aircraft order

01:16:30 Ethiopian's Gulf Recovery

01:18:10 The reality of Air Congo's Expansion

01:24:33 SAA leadership changes amidst audit fallout

01:29:27 Kenya Airways Bailout Rules

01:32:01 Air Peace new routes

01:40:43 Wrap Up and farewell

In this episode, Jon Howell hosts Jonathan Appiah of Air Ghana to explain the airline's background, ownership and strategy amid strong interest from attending delegates ahead of AviaDev.

Jonathan recounts his move from HR into commercial aviation at Africa World Airlines and his route-development experience.

He clarifies Air Ghana is a 100% Ghanaian-owned private company, with global cargo partnerships, a Ghanaian AOC and designation as a national cargo airline, investments in cold-chain/perishables, and leadership in the Ghana Airport Cargo Centre. We dive into Air Ghana's plans to launch domestic passenger services to address capacity and fare issues, targeting late 2026 or early 2027.

00:00 Intro

01:54 Jonathan's Aviation Journey

05:44 What is Air Ghana and what is it not?

10:43 Air Ghana's passenger airline plans

15:20 Why choose a Boeing 737?

18:01 Airport Infrastructure improvements

23:20 The operating environment in Ghana

29:11 Air Ghana's AviaDev Goals

34:17 Closing

In this episode, we host Capt. Thuto Toise, the newly appointed CEO of the Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana, to discuss Botswana's aviation ambitions and its strategic decision to host AviaDev Africa 2026. Capt. Toise explains how improved air connectivity can drive economic growth through tourism, trade, investment, and regional integration, and why bringing airlines and decision-makers to Botswana enables meaningful route-development discussions. He outlines the Botswana Air Access initiative, launched in August 2024, which unites CAAB, tourism and hospitality bodies, travel agencies, investment authorities, and Air Botswana to deliver a coordinated, data-driven approach including incentives, market intelligence, and joint marketing. They explore priorities such as stronger domestic networks, expanded links to Africa, and direct long-haul services, while highlighting Botswana's unique landscapes, culture, and hospitality for visiting delegates.

01:08 Meet Captain Toise

02:24 Why Host AviaDev 2026?

05:05 An introduction to Botswana Air Access

07:00 Botswana's Air Connectivity Priorities

10:10 Botswana's Pitch to Airlines

13:20 The delegate experience in Botswana

16:39 Closing

In this episode, host Jon Howell hosts IATA's Regional VP for Africa and the Middle East, Kamil Al-Awadhi, to discuss why SAATM has seen little progress since its 2018 signing, citing state protectionism, limited collaboration, and slow decision-making across ministries. They explore the economics of operating airlines in Africa, including fuel accounting for about 30–35% of airline costs and being around 17% higher in Africa, plus rising airport, airspace, and API/PNR charges that can add up to $50 per leg and deter tourism. Al-Awadhi describes IATA's advocacy efforts, claiming about 75% success in reducing or stopping fee increases, and argues that Africa does not have too many airlines, but needs better intra-African connectivity and partnerships. They preview the IATA Focus Africa event in Addis Ababa (29–30 April), highlighting SAATM discussions and two safety initiatives aimed at reducing Africa's higher accident rate.

00:00 Welcome and episode preview

01:05 Meet Kamil Al-Awadhi

02:05 SAATM progress and frustrations

06:12 IATA's role in convincing African governments to open their skies

11:34 The ongoing bilateral grind and headwinds impacting airlines

13:53 High operating costs in Africa: fuel, taxes and fees and where IATA is making progress

19:29 IATA's work to push back on new charges

21:12 Airline partnerships and market fragmentation

26:09 Focus Africa goals and safety push

28:38 Who should attend Focus Africa and closing remarks

Find out more about Focus Africa