IATA Focus Africa Conference Returns to Addis Ababa in April 2026
The International Air Transport Association has confirmed that its flagship continental gathering will return to the Ethiopian capital at the end of April, bringing together senior aviation leaders to chart the next phase of African air transport development. The 2026 edition of the IATA Focus Africa Conference is scheduled for 29 and 30 April, with Ethiopian Airlines once again serving as host for this landmark industry event.
Organisers have selected the theme Elevating Aviation Safety, Connectivity, and Operational Efficiency in Africa to guide discussions across two days of intensive programming. This focus reflects the priorities that industry stakeholders have identified as most critical for unlocking the continent's considerable aviation potential in the years ahead.
Speaking ahead of the conference, Kamil Alawadhi, who leads IATA's operations across Africa and the Middle East, emphasised the transformative role that aviation can play in driving broader economic and social progress. He noted that improving safety standards, creating regulatory harmony across borders, and reducing operational costs remain at the forefront of the industry agenda. With annual growth demand projected at three to four percent, the conference aims to unite continental stakeholders around practical measures that convert opportunity into lasting achievement.
The gathering in Addis Ababa will mark a significant moment to assess progress since Ethiopian Airlines first hosted the inaugural Focus Africa Conference in 2023. In the intervening period, the initiative has generated meaningful advances across multiple fronts that directly benefit African aviation professionals and the passengers they serve.
Notable accomplishments include the rollout of API-PNR programmes across twelve African nations, strengthening border security while facilitating smoother passenger processing. Safety initiatives have been implemented throughout the region, while new settlement operations have launched in Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Ghana, and Ivory Coast. These financial infrastructure improvements enable more efficient transactions between airlines and their commercial partners.
Perhaps most significantly for frontline travel professionals, IATA Easy Pay has been introduced in Cameroon, Chad, Gabon, Congo, Mauritius, and Sierra Leone. This payment solution addresses longstanding challenges in markets where limited options previously constrained business development and created cash flow difficulties for carriers and sellers alike.
The conference programme promises an exceptional lineup of speakers representing the full spectrum of African aviation leadership. Dr. Alemu Sime Feyisa, Ethiopia's Minister of Transport and Logistics, will participate alongside Mesfin Tasew, Group Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines. Fellow airline leaders including de Villiers Engelbrecht of Airlink and Captain George Kamal of Kenya Airways will contribute their perspectives on regional challenges and opportunities.
Continental aviation bodies will be well represented, with Adefunke Adeyemi of the African Civil Aviation Commission and Abderahmane Berthe of the African Airlines Association among confirmed participants. Aaron Munetsi from the Airlines Association of Southern Africa and Mohammed Mazi of Saudi Ground Services complete a distinguished roster of industry voices.
Attendees can expect keynote addresses, panel discussions, and technical presentations examining safety enhancement through strengthened standards and oversight mechanisms. Sessions will explore strategies for boosting intra-African connectivity, including regulatory harmonisation efforts and progress toward the Single African Air Transport Market. Operational efficiency will receive substantial attention, with focus on process streamlining, digital innovation adoption, and cost reduction across the aviation value chain.
For African travel trade professionals, this conference represents an essential opportunity to understand the strategic direction of continental aviation and identify emerging possibilities for business development. The decisions and commitments that emerge from Addis Ababa will shape the operating environment for years to come, influencing everything from route availability to ticketing processes and payment solutions.
