IATA Focus Africa 2026 to Spotlight Safety and Connectivity in African Aviation

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced that the 2026 edition of the IATA Focus Africa Conference will take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 29–30 April 2026, bringing together key aviation leaders to address safety, connectivity and operational efficiency across the continent.

Hosted by Ethiopian Airlines, the conference will be held under the theme "Elevating Aviation Safety, Connectivity, and Operational Efficiency in Africa." The event aims to strengthen collaboration among governments, airlines, regulators and industry stakeholders to unlock the full potential of Africa's aviation sector.

"Aviation has the potential to do much more to enable Africa's economic and social development," said Kamil Alawadhi, IATA's Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East.

"Improving safety, harmonizing regulations, and reducing costs while increasing operational efficiency are at the top of the agenda for this edition of the IATA Focus Africa Conference," he said.

Alawadhi added that the sector must prepare to support annual passenger demand growth of 3–4%, emphasizing that coordinated action is essential to transform Africa's aviation potential into sustainable growth.

Building Momentum for African Aviation

The Focus Africa initiative was launched to address long-standing structural challenges in the continent's aviation sector, including fragmented regulations, high operational costs and limited connectivity between African countries.

The upcoming conference will review progress made since the inaugural Focus Africa Conference hosted by Ethiopian Airlines in 2023.

Since then, IATA's Focus Africa program has supported several major developments aimed at strengthening aviation systems across Africa.

Key achievements include:

• Implementation support for API-PNR programs in 12 African countries, improving passenger data systems and border security

• Regional aviation safety initiatives to strengthen operational standards

• New settlement operations through Billing and Settlement Plans (BSP) in Sierra Leone and South Sudan and Cargo Accounts Settlement Systems (CASS) in Ghana and Ivory Coast

• Introduction of IATA Easy Pay in Cameroon, Chad, Gabon, Congo, Mauritius and Sierra Leone, improving payment options for travel agents and easing cash flow challenges for airlines

These initiatives are aimed at improving operational efficiency, strengthening safety oversight and modernizing financial systems in the aviation ecosystem.

High-Level Industry Participation

The 2026 conference will feature a broad lineup of senior aviation leaders, policymakers and industry executives from across Africa and beyond.

Confirmed speakers include:

• Alemu Sime Feyisa, Minister of Transport and Logistics of Ethiopia

• Mesfin Tasew, Group Chief Executive Officer, Ethiopian Airlines

• de Villiers Engelbrecht, Chief Executive Officer, Airlink

• George Kamal, Chief Executive Officer, Kenya Airways

• Adefunke Adeyemi, Secretary General, African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC)

• Abderahmane Berthe, Secretary General, African Airlines Association (AFRAA)

• Aaron Munetsi, Chief Executive Officer, Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA)

• Mohammed Mazi, Chief Executive Officer, Saudi Ground Services (SGS)

Key Themes: Safety, Connectivity and Efficiency

The conference agenda will focus on three major priorities shaping the future of African aviation.

Safety Enhancement:Discussions will address strengthening aviation safety standards, improving regulatory oversight and ensuring consistent implementation of global safety frameworks.

Stronger Connectivity:Industry leaders will explore ways to expand intra-African air routes, harmonize regulatory systems and accelerate the implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), a flagship initiative aimed at liberalizing air travel across the continent.

Operational Efficiency:Sessions will examine strategies to streamline airline and airport operations, adopt digital technologies and reduce costs across the aviation value chain.

Driving Economic Growth Through Aviation

Aviation is widely seen as a critical driver of economic growth in Africa, supporting tourism, trade, employment and regional integration.

However, despite strong demand, Africa accounts for less than 3% of global air traffic, highlighting the need for reforms that can unlock greater connectivity and investment.

By bringing together governments, airlines and aviation stakeholders, the IATA Focus Africa Conference 2026 aims to chart practical steps to strengthen the continent's aviation sector and ensure it can meet growing demand in the years ahead.