AviaDev Insight Africa

This episode features Marcel Langeslag, Director, Aviation Africa at Netherlands Airport Consultants Limited (NACO). NACO offer planning, design and advisory services to airports across the globe and Marcel is involved in numerous projects across the African continent.

In this episode, we cover:

✈️ the 5 emerging trends that will improve airport resilience

✈️ The cargo opportunity for African airports. A long term trend worth investing in?

✈️ The changing face of airport finance and increase in private sector involvement. Are airports still a solid investment?

✈️ Diversification away from aeronautical revenues. How do airports build resilience?

Find out more about NACO here

You can connect with Marcel here

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This podcast was recorded on location at ACI Africa in Mombasa 16th March 2022.

Joining me is Namory Camara, the new Managing Director of SOGEAC (the Airports Company of Guinea).

in the podcast we discuss:

✈️ Mory's aviation career to date

✈️ Top priorities for Guinea's aviation development

✈️ Route development plans and opportunities for the country

✈️ Infrastructure development and investment

✈️ Why we should visit Guinea

You can connect with Mory here

Find out more about SOGEAC here

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My special guest for this episode is none other than the Cabinet Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism and Conservation, Republic of Kenya, Honourable Najib Balala.

This episode was recorded at the beautiful Vipingo Hills Golf Club to the North of Mombasa. Minister Balala and I have spoken together on numerous conference sessions and one of his great passions is aviation.

In the podcast, we discuss:

🛫 The symbiotic relationship between aviation and tourism

✈️ How Kenya have supported airline partners to serve the destination?

🌍 The prospect of a pan-African airline

🏖️ How Nairobi and Mombasa can develop simultaneously

🌍 Whether the pandemic has strengthened the call for African unity or exacerbated protectionism

You can follow the Minister on Twitter here

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This episode is a 2 parter recorded on location in Mombasa, Kenya, during the ACI Africa conference.

between 8-10 May 2022, AFRAA will host its stakeholders' convention in Nairobi in partnership with Kenya Airways.

We first hear from Mr Berthe, Secretary General of AFRAA (African Airlines Association) and we discuss:

✈️ The latest figures for February 2022

✈️ The key topics for the Stakeholders convention, being held under the theme "Beyond the crisis"

✈️ The potential impact of health protocol relaxation

We then speak to Allan Kilavuka and covered the following topics

🛫 KQ's cargo business and whether it is here to stay

🛫 The current challenge of the oil price rise and the impact on fares

🛫 The potential impact of the relaxation of health protocols in Kenya on KQ's business activities

🛫 Fleet plans. Are they downsizing?

🛫 More details about the partnership with SAA and other carriers

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💻 You can find out more about the conference here

On 9th March 2022, Eswatini Air will welcome its first aircraft to the Kingdom, an Embraer ERJ 145.

I am joined by Xavier Masule, Commercial Director and together we discuss:

• The ownership structure and mandate of the airline
• The passenger mix. Is the focus on business or tourism traffic?
• Fleet plans. Why did the airline choose the ERJ 145?
• The initial routes and when we can expect operations to commence
• The airline's view of partnerships and the longer-term plans for the airline

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone that you think would benefit from listening, and don't forget to leave us a review so we can be found by even more people.

This March will see the first live, in-person aviation event in Africa for 2 years. The 67th ACI Africa Board and Committee meetings regional conference and exhibition will take place 12-18 March in the wonderful location of Mombasa, Kenya and AviaDev will be present.

ACI Africa is the Voice of African Airports, with its prime objective to represent and advance the collective interests of African airports

In this podcast, I am joined by the Secretary-General of ACI Africa, Ali Tounsi and together we preview the conference and discuss the key issues of focus for ACI as we look to recover from the effects of the pandemic.

Find out more and register for the event here: http://aci-africa.net/

In this episode, I am joined by the co-hosts of one of my favourite podcasts, Bryanair.

The podcast was a real support to me personally during the Covid lockdown. It was a weekly dose of industry news and flight deck banter, which offered an escape from the negativity around us and it has gone from strength to strength over the last 2 years.

In the podcast, we cover:

• The Bryanair origin story
• The overall aim of the podcast and how it has developed
• The format and audience
• The beauty of the podcast medium and its adoption in Africa
• What to expect from the podcast in the future

You can discover the show for yourself by subscribing on your platform of choice or by clicking here https://bryanair.libsyn.com/

You can connect with Bryan here

You can connect with Ryan here

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone that you think would benefit from listening and don't forget to leave us a review so we can be found by even more people.

You can also visit the AviaDev website, www.aviationdevelop.com to sign up for the AviaDev newsletter.

2021 was yet another disastrous year for African airlines in terms of profitability and any recovery was impacted by the Omicron variant.

The African Airlines Association or AFRAA was a member of the multi-sectoral task force that met and created a document that called for the safe reopening of borders back in February 2021 and there is now a renewed effort to implement the recommendations.

Together with Mr Berthe, we discuss

Why is now the right time for a renewed effort to harmonise travel protocols.

How AFRAA is supporting the African CDC and what AFRAA member airlines want to see in terms of progress?

Digitizing travel in 2022 and harmonizing the inter-operability of solutions

AFRAA's aims and objectives for 2022.

You can find out more at www.afraa.org

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone that you think would benefit from listening and don't forget to leave us a review so we can be found by even more people.

You can also visit the AviaDev website to find out more and sign up for AviaDev Africa taking place on the treasure island of Madagascar this June.

The Covid crisis has had a profound impact on the aviation sector in Africa and these shifting sands have demanded resilience and have inspired new innovative approaches to ensure survival.

One airline famed for its innovation is South Africa's FlySafair and they have announced that they will launch their first service outside of South Africa's borders on March 8 2022 with a two weekly service to the beautiful island of Mauritius.

Kirby Gordon joins me for this podcast and is full of optimism for the immediate future.

Together, we discuss:

• Why now is the right time to launch the Mauritius route and what is the passenger profile expected on the route
• FlySafair's regional expansion plans. What does the airline look for from a potential airport/ destination partner?
• FlySafair's approach to partnerships
• Further innovations to add to the product mix.

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone that you think would benefit from listening and don't forget to leave us a review so we can be found by even more people.

You can also visit the AviaDev website to find out more and sign up for AviaDev Africa taking place on the treasure island of Madagascar this June.

In this episode, we meet Simon Newton-Smith, who joined SAA in August 2021 as Interim CCO. He has a deep and varied background including having previously worked with SAA some 20 years ago.

SAA emerged from business rescue in April 2021 and the airline has entered a turbulent market.

In the podcast, we cover:

• How Simon would sum up the progress made since exiting business rescue
• Where the bright spots are and how the route network has been developed
• What SAA are looking for from potential airports/ destinations that want to attract the airline
• Clarification around the KQ/SAA strategic partnership
• SAA's fleet plans.
• His thoughts on the recovery of business travel
• Immediate strategic objectives for 2022

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone that you think would benefit from listening and don't forget to leave us a review so we can be found by even more people.

Find out more about AviaDev at www.aviationdevelop.com/africa