Introduction.
Airbus subsidiary AALTO has successfully launched its first stratospheric flight using the Zephyr air vehicle from its new AALTOPORT base in Laikipia County, Kenya. The solar-powered, ultra-long-endurance aircraft climbed to 60,000ft on 20 January, achieving an undisclosed flight duration. Zephyr remains the only fixed-wing HAPS to demonstrate sustained day-and-night operations in the stratosphere.
Ghana’s Relax Airlines is gearing up to begin operations this year as it moves closer to obtaining an Air Operator Certificate (AOC). With an Air Carrier Licence already secured, the airline is in the fourth phase of the AOC process, focusing on demonstration and inspection before launching flights.
African Aviation: Projections and Statistics.
Uganda‘s international passenger traffic experienced significant growth in 2024, reaching 2,243,104 passengers compared to 1,932,094 in 2023, according to the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA). This reflects a robust recovery, surpassing pre-COVID levels of 1,802,107 international passengers in 2019. Uganda currently hosts 18 international scheduled operators and 26 licensed operators. The UCAA granted 10 Air Services Licenses (ASL) in 2024, including 7 new licenses and 3 renewals. Cargo volumes also rose to 67,731 metric tonnes in 2024, up from 59,073 metric tonnes in 2023, showing growth even beyond the 2019 figure of 64,731 metric tonnes.
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