In this episode, we speak to Chairman of Kuva Air, James Saruchera.

Kuva Air attended AviaDev Africa for the first time in June 2022 and we pride ourselves on supporting all airlines that have an active Air Operating Certificate

Kuva is a Domestic Zimbabwean airline with a difference. The airline operates an Embraer 120 serving Harare, Victoria Falls and Kariba and they started service in late May 2022.

In this episode, we discover:

🛫 The big idea of the airline

🌍 The fleet and route plans

🦋 The story behind the brand

👩‍💻 How the blockchain can change the game in aviation

To find out more visit https://kuva-air.com/ or follow @kuvaair on Twitter and Instagram.

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A real highlight of the event is presenting the Ato Girma Wake Award for an outstanding contribution to route development in Africa.

This year's winner was Sanjeev Gadhia CEO of Astral aviation and that episode is freely available on the podcast as episode 212.

However, we couldn't resist dipping into the back catalog to release the interview AviaDev CEO Jon Howell did with Ato Girma back on stage in Kigali at AviaDev 2017.

In this episode, you will hear Girma talk about the following:

🛫 His career journey

🛫 What he would have been if he hadn't become an aviator

🛫 Ethiopian Airlines growth strategy

🛫 The national carrier conundrum

🛫 SAATM

Watch out for the incredible anecdote about a meeting with Sir Richard Branson.

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🎤 This is a live session recording from the 1st July at AviaDev Africa 2022. 📲 The topic was "Implementing practical technology to propel African aviation" ✈️ How can airlines and airports take advantage of accessible, affordable technologies and an ever more connected world to deliver cost savings and a better customer experience? Your moderator for this session is Refilwe Ledwaba, Founder, girls Fly Programme for Africa You will hear from the following panelists:

• Kirby Gordon, Chief Marketing Officer, FlySafair

  Blaine Powell, Chief Sales Officer, Ink Innovation

  Aditi Thaker, Account Director- Eastern and Southern Africa, SITA

  Khangi K., Chief Executive Officer, Swissport

  Ciaran Wilson, Head of Sales (Europe, Middle East and Africa) CellPoint Digital

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🎤 This is a live session recording from the 1st July at AviaDev Africa 2022. 🤝 The topic was "Building profitable, sustainable and equitable airline partnerships" 🛫 The recent past has seen an increasing trend towards interlining and co-operation between airlines. How are these performing and what are the potential pitfalls to avoid? How do we ensure that all partners are treated and compensated fairly? Your moderator for this session is Ato Girma Wake, AviaDev Patron and Board Chairman, Ethiopian Airlines You will hear from the following panelists:

• Simon Newton-Smith, Chief Commercial Officer, South African Airways
• Nowel Ngala, Director, Commercial & Ground Operations, ASKY Airlines
• Surafel Saketa, Manager Group Business Development and Equity Partner Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines
• Getaneh Woldemichael, Commercial Director, Air Botswana

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🎤 This is a live session recording from the 1st July at AviaDev Africa 2022. 📦 The topic was "Where are the opportunities for the OEMs in Africa?" ✈️ How will the African fleet mix develop? Is the freighter business here to stay? What role will sustainability play in the future of African aviation? Your moderator for this session is Joanna Bailey, Managing Editor, Simple Flying You will hear from the following panelists:

• Jason Sutcliffe, Regional Marketing Director, Rolls-Royce
• Kuljit Ghata-Aura, President Middle East, Turkey and Africa, Boeing
• Andrew Armitstead, Head of Airline Marketing, Africa & Middle East, Airbus
• Hussein Dabbas, General Manager - Middle East and Africa. Embraer

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🎤 This is a live session recording from the 1st July at AviaDev Africa 2022. 💵 The topic was "Diversifying African airport revenue to build resilience" ✈️ 72% of operating revenue at African airports is derived from aeronautical sources. Covid exposed the need for airports to diversify their revenue, but how can this be done without huge capital expenditure? Your moderator for this session is Marcel Langeslag, Director Africa Aviation, NACO (Netherlands Airport Consultants) You will hear from the following panelists:

• Moritz Breickmann, Investment Director, Africa Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM)
• Julien Coffinier, Chief Executive, Ravinala Airports
• Namory Camara, Managing Director, SOGEAC- Aéroport International Ahmed Sekou Toure

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🎤 This is a live session recording from the 1st July at AviaDev Africa 2022. 📦 The topic was "Air cargo's role in route development in Africa" ✈️ The discipline of air service development has changed forever. Air freight is playing an ever-increasing role in assessing the viability of new routes. Against the shifting sands of rapidly changing health and travel protocols, airline planners have had to be more responsive than ever before. Is this trend here to stay or are airlines taking a longer-term view? Your moderator for this session is John Grant, You will hear from the following panelists:

• Sanjeev Gadhia, CEO, Astral Aviation
• Martin Gitonga, Head of Network Planning and Alliances, Kenya Airways
• Zoe Rajohnson, Commercial and Marketing Director, Ravinala Airports
• David King, Project Manager, Cape Town Air Access

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🎤 This is a live session recording from the 1st July at AviaDev Africa 2022. 💵 The topic was "Financing African airlines. Navigating the route to profitability" ✈️ To buy, lease or look for creative, shorter-term solutions? What are the relative merits of each option and where can finance be found? Your moderator for this session is Sean Mendis, Aviation Expert You will hear from the following panellists:

• Joao Po Jorge, Director General, LAM Mozambique Airlines
• Helen Brume, Director Project and Asset based finance, Afrexim Bank
• Rodger Foster, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Airlink
• Sameer Adam, Senior Vice President, ACIA Aero Leasing
• Federico Curto, Commercial Project Manager, Avion Express

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In 2018, we started our AviaDev Ambassador programme and the concept was very simple. Offer aspiring aviators an opportunity to really be part of the industry and have an opportunity to address the audience from the stage.

After a rigorous selection process, we selected 3 rising aviation stars who will propose their solutions for a more connected and profitable African aviation industry.

There's also a nice surprise at the end in terms so what they are doing to take things forward from here!

🔗 Connect with Mahek here

🔗 Connect with Thabiso here

🔗 Connect with Ronnie here

🏆 Since 2018, AviaDev has presented one distinguished leader in aviation with this annual award for their contribution to route development in Africa.

🌍 Previous winners include Adefunke Adeyemi, Regional Director, Advocacy and Strategic Relations, Africa - IATA; Raphael Kuuchi, Special Envoy on Aero-political Affairs, IATA and Chris Zweigenthal, Chief Executive, Airlines Association of Southern Africa.

🎁📦✈️ We are delighted to announce that in 2022, this esteemed award was presented to Sanjeev Gadhia, Founder and CEO, Astral Aviation.

You will hear Sanjeev being interviewed by both Ato Girma Wake, Board Chairman of Ethiopian Airlines and Event Patron of AviaDev Africa and Adefunke Adeyemi, Regional Director, Advocacy and Strategic Relations, IATA.

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