AviaDev Insight Africa

Previewing the African Airlines Association 58th AGA with Secretary General, Abderahmane Berthe Ahead of the Annual General Assembly in Libreville, Gabon, Jon Howell caught up with the SG and together they cover the pressure points shaping African aviation right now, from fuel shocks and airspace disruption to taxes, blocked funds, financing, fleet development, and market liberalization.

Chapters:

01:24 - How the Middle East crisis and fuel shock has impacted African airlines

06:24 - Why fleet development and financing are now a priority for Africa's airlines

08:45 - De-risking aircraft finance through Cape Town Convention adoption and governance

10:42 - Pooling aircraft, spare parts, and engines through collaboration

13:09 - Why ECOWAS tax cuts are still not being implemented

16:24 - Blocked funds and why repatriation is critical for growth

18:18 - From SAATM declarations to real compliance and implementation

21:29 - Visa openness, trade, tourism, and the wider growth equation

23:33 - Fifth freedom rights and the role of non-African airlines

29:11 - What AFRAA wants delegates to take away from Libreville

31:33 - Why in-person aviation events still matter

Find out more about the AGA https://web.cvent.com/event/89c46023-862b-4f87-b965-21844dfd32c6/websitePage:cffc9bdf-e8b7-471d-9333-36d6da24d0ab

#AFRAA #AfricanAviation #Aviation #AirlineIndustry #Africa #Gabon #AviaDev #Nairobi #libreville #flygabon

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Jambojet CEO and MD Karanja Ndegwa joins The AviaDev team to discuss the airline's return to regional flying with its Entebbe route, why it suspended flights to Zanzibar, and how it plans to grow its fleet.

The conversation also covers Jambojet's relationship with Kenya Airways and the economics shaping airline growth in East Africa.

Chapters

01:04 Jambojet's Entebbe route and return to regional flying

03:28 Domestic recovery and Jambojet's market share growth

04:21 Aircraft shortages and expansion challenges

06:13 Why Jambojet suspended its Zanzibar route

09:06 Tourism fees, taxes, and travel demand

10:52 Jambojet and Kenya Airways: partners or competitors?

12:16 Why the Q400 works for regional routes and short runways

17:00 The Q400 fleet's limits and Jambojet's growth plans

19:17 Fuel costs and Jambojet's profitability

21:09 Fleet expansion plans through 2029

22:20 Aircraft options for Jambojet's future fleet

24:22 Jambojet's financial independence within Kenya Airways

27:22 Karanja's aircraft pick

#Jambojet #AfricanAviation #Aviation #Connectivity #AirlineIndustry #Africa #Kenya #AviaDev #Nairobi #Uganda

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Kenya's Aviation sector is under pressure. How is the industry adapting to disruption?

In this episode, Engineer Liz Aluvanze, CEO of the Kenya Association of Air Operators (KAAO), and Chairperson Mbuvi Ngunze discuss how Kenyan air operators are responding to changes in humanitarian flying, rising aviation taxes, and infrastructure challenges.

The conversation explores how operators are pivoting to new business models, why policy certainty matters for investment, and what needs to change at Wilson Airport and across Kenya's airstrip network.

Chapters:

00:00 — Kenya's Air Operators and the Changing Aviation Landscape

01:50 — How Operators Are Navigating Disruption

05:18 — Growth and Optimism in Kenyan Aviation

07:10 — Aviation Taxes, Spare Parts, and Policy Certainty

12:06 — Kenya's Aviation Infrastructure Challenge

19:18 — How KAO Represents Kenya's Air Operators

23:34 — Building Stronger Industry Connections

#KAAO #AfricanAviation #Aviation #AirlineIndustry #Africa #Kenya #AviaDev #Nairobi Sign up to the AviaDev mailing list https://www.aviadev.com/keep-me-updated

What will it take for Kenya Airways to turn its business around? In this episode, Julius Thairu, Chief Commercial and Customer Officer at Kenya Airways, discusses the airline's priorities: restoring grounded aircraft, improving reliability, rebuilding customer trust, and pursuing profitability.

The conversation explores Kenya Airways' growth strategy, Nairobi's role as an African aviation hub, the airline's fleet and cargo ambitions, and how digital transformation and customer data could improve the passenger experience.

Julius also explains why getting the fundamentals right, especially punctuality, route relevance, and disruption recovery, is essential to the airline's next chapter.

Chapters

00:00 — Kenya Airways' turnaround and 50-year legacy

04:32 — Stabilization, strategy, and the grounded fleet

07:48 — Profitability, growth, and Nairobi as a hub

13:02 — Customer experience and the gap between promise and reality 17:49 — Fleet targets and the cargo opportunity

19:41 — Passenger priorities and reliability challenges

24:03 — Network changes and improving operational reliability 28:14 — Disruption recovery and customer accountability

29:04 — Digital transformation and customer data 33:39 — Growth strategy, investment, and profitability

39:15 — Kenya Airways' key markets and future priorities

#KenyaAirways #AfricanAviation #Aviation #CustomerExperience #AirlineIndustry #Africa #Kenya #AviaDev #Nairobi Sign up to the AviaDev mailing list https://www.aviadev.com/keep-me-updated

In this episode, host Jon Howell speaks with Selim Bouri, President, Middle East, Africa and Turkiye, SITA, and Daniel Muchuchuti, ICT Director, Airports Company of Zimbabwe (ACZ).

The conversation explores the latest findings from SITA's IT Insights and Baggage reports and how Africa is performing and where there is room for improvement.

The conversation then moves to a case study around airport IT Investment, with the Airports Company of Zimbabwe, outlining how a collaborative approach to investment in technology upgrades aims to benefit the passenger and airline customer.

Chapters:

00:00 — Why airport IT investment matters for Africa

02:14 — Africa's uneven airport technology investment

04:53 — Passenger processing and border management priorities

07:50 — Why coordination matters more than technology

10:18 — Who must collaborate to modernize African borders

14:54 — The high cost of mishandled baggage

15:57 — How baggage tracking works across the industry

16:26 — Why one mishandled bag costs $260

17:23 — Africa's baggage challenge and connecting flights

18:19 — How automation can reduce baggage mishandling

20:25 — Zimbabwe's airport technology transformation

22:40 — Building a standardized, common-use airport platform

25:59 — Convincing airlines to share the investment

30:08 — The case for integrated, future-proof technology

31:34 — Shared payment and shared responsibility

35:32 — A new investment model for growing African airports

38:32 — Advice for airport technology leaders

40:30 — Why long-term IT investment will shape future growth

Resources: SITA's baggage insights: https://www.sita.aero/resources/surveys-reports/sita-baggage-it-insights/

SITA's 2025 Air Transport IT Insights report: https://www.sita.aero/resources/surveys-reports/air-transport-it-insights-2025/airports/

Fastjet Zimbabwe Business CEO and Country Head Donahue Cortes joins Host Jon Howell to reflect on more than a decade of airline operations in a volatile market.

They discuss how Fastjet Zimbabwe built resilience, why the Embraer 145 became a strategic strength, what the Airbus A320 trial means for the airline's future, and how new partnerships could reshape regional connectivity across Southern Africa.

The conversation also explores business class demand, route development, aviation liberalization, and Donahue's view of leadership as stewardship.

CHAPTERS

00:00 - Welcome and introduction to Fastjet Zimbabwe's 10-year story

02:42 - What is the key to surviving and growing in African aviation?

07:43 - How fundamental was the initial single-aircraft strategy?

12:43 - Why did Fastjet Zimbabwe introduce the Airbus A320?

19:39 - Did customers create the demand for business class?

23:28 - Where could Fastjet Zimbabwe expand its network?

29:28 - How will the Etihad interline change network planning?

35:55 - Is aviation liberalization delivering its intended results?

41:14 - Where will Fastjet Zimbabwe be in five years?

43:16 - Why does Donahue see leadership as stewardship?

46:13 - Closing thoughts on African aviation connectivity

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#AviaDev #FastjetZimbabwe #AfricanAviation #AviationLeadership #AirlineIndustry #RouteDevelopment #AirlineStrategy #AviationConnectivity #Zimbabwe #SouthernAfrica #AirbusA320 #Embraer145 #AirlineManagement #AviationPodcast

In this episode of the AviaDev Insight Africa Connectivity Podcast, Jon Howell is joined by Sean Mendis and Behramjee for a fast-moving roundup of the biggest aviation stories across Africa and beyond.

If you want a sharp, informed take on African aviation strategy, network planning, and the commercial realities behind the headlines, this episode is packed with insight.

Subscribe for monthly AviaDev connectivity updates and analysis.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro and episode overview

03:18 Airlink flypast in Cape Town

16:09 Airlink's new domestic route, Qatar codeshare, and E2 route updates

28:19 Kenya Airways results and leadership changes

38:34 South African Airways leadership churn and strategy

44:15 FlySafair launches third daily Johannesburg–Harare

53:53 FlySafair acquisition and competition concerns

01:00:18 Malawi Airlines adds more Johannesburg frequencies

01:02:08 Canada–Nigeria bilateral signed and the Air Canada opportunity on Toronto-Lagos

01:17:11 Air Peace's West Coast growth and Lagos–São Paulo on the radar

01:19:59 ValueJet's Boeing 737 additons and potential network expansion

01:24:15 Africa World Airlines relaunches Abidjan

01:26:53 Ethiopian Airlines winter network changes

01:35:22 Mesfin Tasew leadership extension and fleet strategy

01:37:51 Tewolde GebreMariam joins Air India

01:40:33 Air Congo opens Paris via Brussels

01:42:24 RwandAir considers Manchester

01:44:36 Etihad increases Zanzibar to double daily

01:49:17 Zambia Airways new CEO

01:51:23 ProFlight Zambia adds Jetstream 41s

01:52:26 Jambojet launches Nairobi–Entebbe

01:55:17 Uganda Airlines announces Accra and Kigali

02:0212 Air Sierra Leone Gatwick relaunches

02:04:23 TAG Angola adds Dakar–Praia and Latam codeshare

02:1303 Wrap-up and closing remarks

#AviaDev #AfricanAviation #AirlineNews #AviationNews #Connectivity #Airlink #KenyaAirways #EthiopianAirlines #SouthAfricanAirways #Safair #AirPeace #RwandaAir #UgandaAirlines

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