African Aviation Trails

This section highlights key aviation developments across Africa, including the launch of new airlines and domestic services in Mozambique and Nigeria, as well as major regulatory reforms in Kenya. Collectively, these initiatives focus on improving domestic connectivity, supporting tourism and regional development, expanding aviation infrastructure, and strengthening regulatory oversight to align with international aviation safety and operational standards.

This update highlights key developments in African aviation, including the launch of Cape Verde's new domestic airline, CVsky, to strengthen inter-island connectivity and support tourism, alongside Ghana's introduction of a new airport infrastructure levy that increases airfares to finance airport expansion and modernization projects, while raising concerns over affordability, airline competitiveness, and regional air transport liberalization.

This section highlights major aviation infrastructure and airline recovery developments across Africa, including the reopening of Sudan’s Khartoum International Airport after extensive rehabilitation, the successful test flight at Nigeria’s newly developed Gusau International Airport, and renewed efforts to revive the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s national carrier, Congo Airways. Collectively, these developments reflect continued investment in aviation infrastructure, improved regional connectivity, and government-led initiatives to strengthen the resilience and sustainability of the continent’s air transport sector.

This trail highlights key aviation regulatory and policy developments across Africa, including the certification of a new Nigerian airline, Angola’s efforts to regain access to the European aviation market, and Namibia’s proposed military airspace restrictions. Collectively, these developments reflect ongoing efforts to strengthen aviation safety, expand market access, improve connectivity, and balance national security with the needs of civil aviation and regional economic development.

This trail highlights key developments affecting Africa's aviation industry, including airline certification, regulatory policy, and operating costs. It covers Enugu Air's transition to independent operations, Nigeria's review of helicopter landing charges, and the impact of rising global jet fuel prices on airlines and passengers, underscoring ongoing efforts to strengthen connectivity while navigating economic and geopolitical challenges.

In this trail: Aviation and travel policy developments gathered pace as Puntland suspended Daallo Airlines' operations over safety concerns, Nigeria reversed its airport cashless toll system after severe congestion, Somalia introduced mandatory biometric IDs for domestic air travel, France tightened visa rules for Algerian diplomats, and the UK imposed new visa restrictions on several high-risk countries to curb rising asylum claims.

In this trail: TANZANIA introduced mandatory drug screening for all repatriated human remains at airports after traffickers were found concealing narcotics inside corpses, while ETHIOPIA ruled out immediate aviation market liberalisation. SOMALIA grounded 11 Malawi-registered aircraft over safety concerns, GHANA renamed Kotoka International Airport to Accra International Airport, SOKOTO State advanced plans for Caliphate Air, the UN resumed humanitarian flights into Khartoum, and African leaders renewed calls for visa-free travel to boost continental integration and connectivity.

In this trail, Fastjet Mozambique is preparing to relaunch scheduled operations in the second half of 2026 with three Embraer ERJ145 regional jets based in Beira, while Egypt's start-up Pyramids Airlines is advancing toward regulatory approval ahead of its planned 2026 launch, focusing initially on charter and ACMI operations.

Benin has granted an operating licence to Amazone Airlines, paving the way for the country's new national carrier to launch domestic and regional services and strengthen Cotonou's position as a West African aviation hub. Meanwhile, Israeli carrier Arkia has resumed using Somali airspace on its Bangkok route after authorities reinstated its overflight permit following a two-week suspension. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a UN helicopter carrying MONUSCO Acting Head Vivian van de Perre became the first aircraft to land at Goma International Airport since its closure in January 2025, marking a symbolic milestone toward the gradual restoration of humanitarian air access and operations in the conflict-affected region.