African Aviation Trails

African aviation experienced several safety-related incidents during the week, including two survivable light aircraft accidents in Namibia and Angola, a fatal Libyan Armed Forces Mil Mi-17 helicopter crash that claimed five lives, and the total loss of a Starsky Aviation Fokker 50 after it overshot the runway during an emergency landing at Mogadishu, with all 55 occupants escaping safely. In Nigeria, an Arik Air Boeing 737 diverted safely to Benin following an engine anomaly, while a United Nigeria Airlines Airbus A320 sustained a bird strike on landing at Port Harcourt, resulting in minor operational disruptions but no injuries.

Cairo International Airport and Guinea’s Conakry Airport posted strong double-digit passenger growth in 2025, while Senegal’s Blaise Diagne Airport maintained stable traffic despite lower transit volumes. South African Airways strengthened its regional and international market share, Brazil extended Angolan visitor visas from two to five years, and Ghana and Zambia agreed to introduce visa-free travel. Uganda Airlines CEO Jenifer Bamuturaki stepped down amid leadership changes, Sinaly Silué was elected Chairman of ASECNA, and Air Botswana appointed Bao Mosinyi as General Manager. Meanwhile, Namibia’s Civil Aviation Authority retained its ISO 9001:2015 certification, families of Boeing 737 MAX crash victims renewed legal efforts against Boeing, and Gambia International Airlines faced scrutiny over weak recovery of unpaid Hajj ticket loans.

Ethiopian Airlines resolved a minor aircraft mechanical issue in Liberia without injuries, while Somalia denied landing rights to aircraft carrying Puntland and Jubaland delegations amid political tensions. South Africa recorded two separate training aircraft accidents with no fatalities, and an Air France flight experienced a ground positioning incident in Côte d’Ivoire. In the DRC, security forces foiled a drone attack targeting Kisangani Airport, while investigations into Libya’s December 2025 Falcon 50 crash identified multiple generator failures before the fatal accident. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s FAAN faces mounting opposition from freight agents over proposed airport rent and cargo tariff increases, raising concerns over potential disruptions to cargo operations.

Egypt advanced plans for a US$500 million Cairo Metro airport link and recorded strong airport sector growth through the Egyptian Airports Company, while Kenya Airports Authority launched a nationwide airport modernization programme across major and regional airports. In Nigeria, FAAN confirmed a 22-month rehabilitation of Lagos' Terminal 1, supported by a temporary international terminal, as the Nigeria Customs Service reported a 13% rise in airport revenue collections. Tunisia approved a US$950 million expansion of Tunis-Carthage International Airport to more than double its capacity, and South African Airways reported a return to profitability, highlighting its continued operational and financial recovery.

Air Cairo strengthened its fleet with the delivery of a leased Airbus A320 from DAE Capital, while Burkina Faso's BATOT AIR entered the heavy air cargo market with its first Ilyushin Il-76TD freighter. Congo Airways resumed operations with a leased Airbus A320 to restore domestic and regional connectivity across the DRC, and Tanzania’s Government Flight Agency received a refurbished Dash 8-400 under De Havilland Canada’s OEM refurbishment programme, reinforcing its regional fleet modernization strategy.

Airlink expanded its Southern African network with a new Johannesburg–Nacala route and increased Johannesburg–Ndola frequencies, while Safarilink added afternoon Nairobi–Entebbe flights via Kisumu and Skyward Airlines launched services to Vipingo Ridge. Global Aviation introduced FlyVetivAir charter holidays linking Durban and Réunion, Cabo Verde Airlines announced the return of Praia–Recife flights, and Egypt's Capital International Airport welcomed its first scheduled international service. Elsewhere, flynas marked three years of Saudi Arabia–Morocco operations with plans for a new Rabat route, Magma Aviation expanded Nairobi–Liège cargo capacity to support horticultural exports, and Africa World Airlines revealed plans to acquire larger aircraft to strengthen its regional network.

Libya and Turkey advanced discussions on expanding air connectivity, including potential Turkish Airlines flights to Sabha, while exploring greater Turkish participation in Libya's reconstruction efforts. Sifax SAHCO Travels, SAHCO Aviation, Leisure Republic, and RwandAir launched a premium Kenya travel programme to promote intra-African tourism and business travel. Mauritius partnered with Thomas Cook India and SOTC Travel to boost Indian visitor arrivals through targeted marketing and tourism development. Meanwhile, Algeria formally initiated the termination of its bilateral air services agreement with the UAE, raising uncertainty over future air connectivity between the two countries amid ongoing diplomatic tensions.

The U.S. FAA issued an emergency directive grounding Canadian-assembled aircraft unless specifically authorized, prompting global regulatory reviews. Kenya ordered obstacle lighting on tall structures near airports to enhance flight safety, while Nigeria's Ebonyi State secured licensing for the launch of Ebonyi Air. Cameroon introduced mandatory digital customs declarations for arriving ASKY Airlines passengers, LAM Mozambique Airlines unveiled a new four-tier fare structure, and Ghana announced plans to rename Kotoka International Airport as part of efforts to reflect the country's historical heritage.

January 2026 recorded 296 aviation occurrences and 78 fatalities globally. Gulfstream and Embraer posted strong commercial performance, while Namibia and Kenya expanded aviation connectivity. Africa saw key leadership appointments, labour disputes, and major certification milestones, with LIFT joining IATA and Ethiopian Airlines operating the first Boeing 787 flight into Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.