Kenya will host the second African Aviation Week (16-20 September) championing best practice, market liberalisation and world-class safety standards. The initiative is being promoted by Ground Handling International (GHI), the AviAssist Foundation and the AviaDev Africa forum.
The decision to bring the celebratory week to Kenya comes after the country become one of just eight in Africa to achieve Category One status for effective implementation of ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices and announced its first direct routes to the US.
These milestones echo African Aviation Week’s principles of championing safety excellence and greater connectivity in Africa. The week will see more than 150 business leaders at airlines, airports, ground service providers and suppliers from across the region gather at the 5th African GHI Stakeholders’ Conference in Nairobi to debate a blueprint for more coordinated growth across the continent.
Africa is tipped to become the world’s fastest growing aviation market with nearly 6% annual growth in passenger volumes over the next 20 years according to IATA figures. African Aviation Week aims to support that growth and help stakeholders break down barriers around protectionism, connectivity and the adoption of new technology.
The week will also host a special ‘What Airlines Want in Africa’ industry summit. The initiative will invite Africa leading carriers to talk candidly about their business pressures in the region and explore how developing more collaborative ‘value based’ partnerships with ground handlers could help boost cost efficiency in the long run.
African Aviation Week debuted in Kigali, Rwanda, last September with a series of aviation learning and training events and the backing of the Rwandan Government.
Max Gosney, GHI Conference Chairman, said: “We’re delighted to bring African Aviation Week back and continue our work celebrating African aviation trailblazers. It’s vital that we foster the stakeholder collaboration that‘s crucial to ensuring the continent delivers on its huge aviation growth potential.”
Jon Howell, CEO and Founder, AviaDev “Knowledge sharing and the spirit of collaboration is something we advocate through all of our activities. The Africa Aviation Week is a great example of this, which we are confident will capitalise on the opportunities that exist for aviation development in Africa”
Tom Kok, Director at the AviAssist Foundation, an organisation dedicated to promoting professionalism in African aviation safety, said: “Safety does not happen in isolation. That is why are happy to be part of this second edition of the Africa Aviation Week alliance and go outside our comfort zone to break down the silos in the industry. Safety cannot mature without all other building blocks being attended too as well”.
African Aviation Week: in summary
When: 16-20 September
What: Uniting Africa’s aviation community to champion success stories, share best practice and agree a tangible plan for delivering on the continent’s potential.
Supporters: Ground Handling International, the AviaAssist Foundation, AviaDev.
Key aims
1. Celebrate African aviation success stories
2. Champion safety excellence
3. Foster collaboration between stakeholders
4. Encourage open skies and improved alignment between African countries
About Ground Handling International…
Ground Handling International is a UK- based magazine and conferences business that has been bringing the global aviation community together to share best practice since 1995. Through our five international conferences and bi-monthly GHI magazine, we provide an essential industry forum for networking and learning among ground service providers, airlines and airport stakeholders.
About AviAssist
The AviAssist Foundation is the only independent, non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting professionalism in African aviation safety. The Foundation’s sole purpose is to provide impartial, independent, expert safety guidance and resources for the African aviation industry.
About AviaDev
AviaDev is the only forum that focuses on growing connectivity to, from and within the African continent. It brings together airports, airlines, tourism authorities, governments and industry suppliers. It offers attendees the ability to pre-arrange meetings in professional surroundings, offering the best chance to make a real connection.
