South Africa set to host major African aviation summit

South Africa has been chosen to host the eighth Aviation Africa Summit and Exhibition in Johannesburg. 

The Aviation Africa Summit and Exhibition to be held in Sandton in September is set to host the largest number of attendees in the history of the event.  

According to Mark Brown, CEO of Times Aerospace Events, which organises the event, “With around 1 500 delegates expected to attend Aviation Africa in South Africa, the summit will be our largest ever.”

GATHERING OF AVIATION STAKEHOLDERS

The Aviation Africa Summit and Exhibition is regarded as the continent’s leading annual meeting place for Africa’s commercial air transport industry.

South Africa is being afforded the opportunity to host this year’s event. “This is the first time the event has taken place in South Africa, and it comes at an important time as the country recovers and rebuilds from the turbulence of the past few years,” Brown said.

SUMMIT FOCUSES ON AFRICAN AVIATION

The event is officially hosted by South Africa’s Ministry of Transport and led by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA).

That said, executives and officials from the airline and air transport sectors will assemble in Sandton in a few weeks. This is for the eighth Aviation Africa Summit and Exhibition hosted at Sandton Convention Centre on 16 and 17 September.

A welcome address will be made by SACAA’s Director of Civil Aviation, Ms Poppy Khoza.

TACKLING ISSUES IN AFRICAN AVIATION

According to Aviation Africa Summit chair, Alan Peaford, the summit will debate issues experienced in the sector.

“The eighth Aviation Africa Summit has secured speakers from across the continent and further afield to debate the issues and challenges the continent undoubtedly faces, to realise its full potential.” Peaford said.

A session featuring airline CEOs will include Rodger Foster, CEO of Airlink and Lulu Rasebotsa, CEO of Air Botswana. In addition, a session featuring airport leaders will include Mpumi Mpofu, CEO, Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA).

EXPERT INDUSTRY SPEAKERS

The summit will also feature keynote addresses from Abdérahmane Berthé, Secretary General of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA); Alcinda Pereira, Chair, African Business Aircraft Association (AfBAA); Kamil Al-Alwadhi, Regional Vice President for Africa & Middle East, IATA and Sanjeev Gadhia, CEO, Astral Aviation.

Furthermore, a session on the second day of the summit will discuss ways in which Africa’s aviation sector can advance. The session is titled “Putting it all together: where does Africa go from here”.

The panel will in fact include Kevin Storie, CEO, Commercial Aviation Association of Southern Africa (CAASA). Also included are Dawit Lemma, CEO, Krimson Aviation; Aaron Munetsi, CEO, Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA) and Henok Teferra Shawl, Managing Director Africa, Boeing Global.

BOOST FOR LOCAL ECONOMY

Significantly, the hosting of such events is beneficial for South Africa’s economy. Thus, events such as this require good organisation, reliable infrastructure and efficient services. 

Moreover, hotels and businesses offering services needed by visitors will have the opportunity to earn income by providing their services.

From transport to accommodation, and catering to translation services, visitors will require many services. Local businesses are indeed set to benefit by serving attendees of the African aviation summit.

South Africa also hosted the 15th BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) Summit in August 2023, in Sandton.