Africa Weekly Aviation Trails: Week 20, 2025.

Introduction.

The 37th International Air Transport Association (IATA) Ground Handling Conference (IGHC) was successfully held from May 13 to 15, 2025, at the iconic Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, Kenya, with Kenya Airways serving as the official host airline. This milestone event marked the first time the IGHC was hosted on the African continent. Held under the theme “Elevate”, the conference drew a record attendance of over 1,500 industry stakeholders, including airline executives, airport authorities, ground handling service providers, regulators, and technology partners from around the world. The event served as a vital platform to address key issues and transformative trends in ground handling services, safety, and efficiency.

Meanwhile, from May 11 to 14, 2025, the 13th Aviation Stakeholders Convention and the 2nd African Aviation Safety & Operations Summit were jointly held at the Kigali Convention Centre in Rwanda. Organized by the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) and the Flight Safety Foundation, and hosted by RwandAir Ltd with support from the Government of Rwanda. Held under the theme “Sustainability. Collaborate. Innovate,” the events provided a dynamic forum for policy makers, airline operators, OEMs, safety experts, and technology providers to explore solutions to the continent’s most pressing aviation challenges.

AOCs/ASLs/Regulations.

Mwant Jet, based in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, has regained its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the DR Congo Civil Aviation Authority, allowing it to resume operations after being suspended for over two years. The suspension, which began in 2023, was due to financial difficulties and a dispute among shareholders. Prior to grounding, Mwant Jet operated two Embraer ERJ145 aircraft serving domestic routes within the country. The airline is now fully owned by Michael Yav Tshikung, who is leading the effort to restart services despite significant ongoing challenges, including a multimillion-franc debt and ongoing legal issues.