Conferences & Events.
The African Air Transport Convention & Expo 2026 (AFCAC EXPO 2026) took place from 15 to 19 June 2026 in Lomé, TOGO, and was hosted at the Hotel 2 Février, bringing together transport ministers, civil aviation authorities, airline executives, airport operators, regulators, and international aviation stakeholders. The event served as a high-level continental platform that combined a policy convention with an aviation exhibition aimed at shaping the future of AFRICAN air transport. Discussions focused on key strategic priorities, including the implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), improvement of intra-AFRICAN connectivity, air service liberalisation, aviation safety and regulatory harmonisation, infrastructure development, digital transformation, and sustainability in aviation. Alongside the policy sessions, the expo component provided a commercial platform where aircraft manufacturers, aviation technology firms, financiers, and service providers engaged with AFRICAN airlines and governments to explore partnerships, route development opportunities, and investment prospects. Overall, the event reinforced collaboration across the continent’s aviation ecosystem and highlighted Lomé’s growing position as a regional aviation and logistics hub.
Aviation Projections and Statistics.
Embraer has highlighted the significant untapped potential for intra-AFRICAN air connectivity in a report published during the AviaDev conference in Zanzibar, underscoring aviation as a critical enabler of economic growth and regional integration across the continent. The study notes that despite AFRICA representing 18% of the global population, it accounts for less than 3% of global GDP and only 2.1% of global air traffic, reflecting major structural gaps in intra-regional connectivity. It further reveals that 64% of intra-AFRICAN markets are served with seven or fewer weekly flights, with many city pairs either underserved or requiring long-haul connections via EUROPE or the MIDDLE EAST. Embraer identifies at least 45 viable intra-AFRICAN routes that could support multiple weekly direct services, particularly with right-sized aircraft such as the E2 family, which are considered suitable for thin and fragmented markets. The report also introduces a stimulation effect model, showing that direct connectivity can significantly increase demand, with smaller markets potentially experiencing up to 80% traffic growth following route launches. The findings emphasize that improved hub efficiency, higher frequencies, and the deployment of appropriately sized aircraft are essential to unlocking AFRICA’S projected 4.4% annual air traffic growth over the next two decades and supporting broader economic development.
People/Appointments.
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