Africa Aviation Trails: Week 13, 2026

Introduction.

Dangote Refinery has begun exporting aviation fuel to European markets, marking a major milestone for West Africa’s role in global energy supply chains. The Lagos-based refinery currently operates at 650,000 barrels per day, with plans to expand to 1.4 million barrels per day by 2028, and has already exported 12 cargoes totaling 456,000 tonnes of refined products, including aviation fuel, to countries such as the UK, Ghana, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Tanzania, and Togo. This move comes amid disruptions in Middle Eastern supply routes, which historically account for around 40% of European jet fuel, and has led to benchmark prices doubling to $1,744 per tonne. The refinery’s modern infrastructure, strategic Atlantic location, and production flexibility position it as a reliable alternative for European buyers, supporting long-term diversification and resilience in aviation fuel supply chains.

Conferences/Events/Exhibitions

The African MRO Conference 2026 was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from March 29–31, 2026, under the theme “Building Africa’s Sustainable MRO Ecosystem,” bringing together over 450 delegates from more than 50 countries, including airline executives, MRO leaders, OEMs, regulators, and technology providers. Hosted by Ethiopian Airlines and organised by the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) with founding MRO partners from Ethiopian MRO, EgyptAir Maintenance & Engineering, Kenya Airways MRO, and South African Airways Technical, the conference focused on strengthening regional aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul capacity to retain more value within Africa. Discussions emphasised enhancing supply chain resilience, developing technical skills, adopting digital and predictive maintenance technologies, and fostering intra‑African collaboration, with structured B2B sessions to translate dialogue into commercial partnerships and deals aimed at reducing reliance on off‑continent services and improving competitiveness.

The maiden Nigerian Aircraft Acquisition and Investment Summit in Lagos convened domestic airlines, aircraft lessors, financial institutions, policymakers, and airport managers to explore strategies for fleet expansion, improved access to aircraft, and a stronger operating environment for Nigerian carriers. Discussions highlighted the government’s renewed support for indigenous airlines, with Air Peace CEO Allen Onyema recalling past challenges, including losses of $3 million and $8 million from foreign partners and years of policy neglect favoring international carriers. FAAN’s MD Olubunmi Kuku emphasized Nigeria’s potential as a West and Central Africa aviation hub, advocating partnerships with banks, leasing firms, and development finance institutions. A key announcement was a collaboration between Fidelity Bank and German firm AFG to provide technical expertise and financing for aircraft acquisition and leasing, with flexible structures including outright purchase and SPV-backed leasing.