Introduction. Aviation experts from 19 countries across five African regional blocs have endorsed a model bilateral air services agreement designed to accelerate the long-delayed liberalization of Africa’s skies under the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM). Backed by the European Union, the template aims to harmonize fragmented rules, dismantle restrictions,

Introduction. The Airports Council International – ACI Africa working paper on Safety Fundamentals: Aerodrome Certification highlights major disparities in global certification, with rates as low as 33% in Western and Central Africa and 52% in Eastern and Southern Africa, compared to much higher levels in other regions. While progress has

Introduction. Angola scored 83.14% in the latest International Civil Aviation Organization civil aviation safety audit, ranking 4th in Africa behind Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania, and surpassing both the African (66.70%) and global (72.01%) averages. The audit, conducted in June 2025, assessed the national aviation system and key airports, marking a

Introduction. East Africa’s aviation sector faces mounting turbulence as geopolitics and protectionism undermine growth despite open skies initiatives. RwandAir Ltd has been forced to suspend key routes due to DR Congo’s airspace ban, while Uganda Airlines remains blocked from flying to Kigali amid strained bilateral ties. Kenya Airways (KQ) suffers

Introduction. Khartoum International Airport is set to reopen in October 2025, following its closure since the April 2023 conflict between Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, which devastated infrastructure and halted commercial operations. Renovations and repairs, including runways, taxiways, power networks, and terminals, are nearing 85% completion, enabling

Introduction. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released its 2024 World Air Transport Statistics (WATS) report on August 4, 2025, revealing key trends shaping global aviation. Passenger traffic grew by 9.4% year-on-year, slightly trailing the global average growth of 11.5%, while the load factor improved by 0.7 percentage points to

Introduction. International Air Transport Association (IATA) has urged African governments to prioritize aviation as a catalyst for economic growth, job creation, and regional connectivity, highlighting its $75 billion contribution to the continent’s GDP and support for over 8.1 million jobs. With the sector projected to grow 4.1% annually and double

Introduction. On Thursday, July 25, 2025, Senegal officially joined the Artemis Accords, becoming the 56th nation to commit to peaceful, transparent, and cooperative space exploration. The signing ceremony was hosted at NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration headquarters in Washington, following a recent meeting between Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye

Introduction. Namibia Civil Aviation Authority, in partnership with the European Union and EASA – European Union Aviation Safety Agency, launched a three-day aviation workshop in Windhoek from July 16 to July 18, 2025, to advance climate action in the sector. The focus is on key initiatives such as CORSIA, Sustainable