Top executives and officials from across the airline and air transport industry are set to gather in South Africa for the 8th Aviation AFRICA Summit & Exhibition. The event, taking place on September 16-17, 2024, at the Sandton Convention Centre in Gauteng, marks a significant moment for the continent’s aviation sector.
The summit is officially hosted by the Government of South Africa and the Ministry of Transport, with leadership from the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA). Poppy Khoza, Director of Civil Aviation at SACAA, will deliver the welcome address, setting the tone for the discussions and deliberations that will follow. The event’s significance is underscored by the involvement of high-ranking officials and industry leaders from across Africa and beyond.
Keynote Speakers and Panels
A series of keynote addresses will be delivered by prominent figures in the aviation industry, including:
- Abdérahmane Berthé, Secretary General, African Airlines Association (AFRAA)
- Alcinda Pereira, Chair, African Business Aircraft Association (AfBAA)
- Kamil Al-Alwadhi, Regional Vice President for Africa & Middle East, IATA
- Sanjeev Gadhia, CEO, Astral Aviation
The summit will also feature an airline CEO panel, with participation from:
- Rodger Foster, CEO of Airlink
- Lulu Rasebotsa, CEO of Air Botswana
An airport leaders panel will bring together:
- Mpumi Mpofu, CEO of Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA)
- Mwamba Patience Nakambale, Managing Director of Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe Airport, Zambia
The final panel on Day 2, titled “Putting it all together: where does Africa go from here,” will feature:
- Kevin Storie, CEO, Commercial Aviation Association of Southern Africa (CAASA)
- Dawit Lemma, CEO, Krimson Aviation
- Aaron Munetsi, CEO, Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA)
- Henok Teferra Shawl, Managing Director Africa, Boeing Global
This year’s event is particularly notable as it is the first time the summit is being held in South Africa, a country that is in the midst of rebuilding its aviation sector following the challenges of recent years.
Alan Peaford, Chair of the Aviation AFRICA Summit, expressed enthusiasm for the event, noting the robust response from speakers across the continent and internationally. “The 8th Aviation Africa Summit has once again drawn a fantastic response from 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.
Record-Breaking Attendance Expected
According to Mark Brown, CEO of Times Aerospace Events, the organizer of the summit, the 2024 event is expected to be the largest in its history, with around 1,500 delegates anticipated. Brown highlighted the importance of this year’s summit in the context of South Africa’s recovery and rebuilding efforts. “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,” he stated.
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