Zanzibar is preparing to host one of the continent’s most important aviation development gatherings as AviaDev Africa 2025 is scheduled to take place from June 11 to 13 at the Golden Tulip Zanzibar Airport. The event will be jointly hosted by the Zanzibar Airports Authority (ZAA) and the Zanzibar Commission for Tourism (ZCT), reflecting a shared commitment to fostering dialogue and partnerships in African aviation.
The 2025 edition is expected to gather over 500 delegates, including representatives from 36 airlines with approximately three-quarters of attendees coming from Africa. This underlines the event’s regional relevance. Over 1,200 meetings have been arranged in advance, providing practical opportunities for route negotiations and business discussions among attendees from 46 different countries.
The programme will include keynote presentations and panel sessions exploring a range of themes from sustainable airport operations to how artificial intelligence is shaping commercial strategies across the aviation industry. Participants will also have the opportunity to engage in direct business meetings as well as informal networking activities.
As part of the cultural component, delegates will take part in a guided tour of Stone Town. This will allow participants to not only experience the history and culture of Zanzibar but also engage with the community beyond the confines of formal discussion.
Zanzibar’s selection as host comes at a time when the region is recording steady progress in air traffic activity. Passenger numbers have grown from 1.9 million in 2023 to 2.4 million in 2024, with forecasts indicating further growth to over 2.7 million by the end of 2025. This growth is linked to improved airport management and the reinstatement of routes by global carriers, including Air France.
AviaDev Africa 2025 will serve as both a strategic meeting point and a reflection of the energy behind aviation as a driver of intra-African tourism, trade, and development
