Africa Weekly Aviation Trails: Week 49, 2025.

Introduction.

At the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) Annual General Meeting in Angola, IATA, Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA), and AFRAA resolved to form a unified task force to address Africa’s escalating aviation taxes and safety challenges, with IATA noting that airline taxes and charges across the continent are already 15% higher than the global average. IATA highlighted the severe financial strain on African carriers, which earn only USD 1.2 profit per seat, compared to the global average of USD 7.7 per seat, undermining competitiveness and growth. A major concern is the rapid rise of new levies, including Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS) taxes: Nigeria, for example, initially proposed a USD 50 per passenger fee, which IATA negotiated down to USD 11.5, effective 1 December. Safety performance remains another critical issue, with Africa recording 10.59 accidents per one million flights, nearly ten times higher than the global rate of 1.13 accidents per million flights, according to IATA’s 2024 Safety Report. Additional industry worries include ground-handling monopolies that limit airline bargaining power.

Conferences, Events and Exhibitions.

The 57th Annual General Assembly (AGA) of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), hosted by TAAG-Linhas Aereas de Angola in Luanda, brought together delegates from 49 countries, including airline executives, government officials, regulators, and industry partners, to discuss connectivity, cooperation, and sustainability in African aviation. Held under the theme “Redefining African Aviation: Cooperation, Sustainability, and Strategic Growth,” the event positioned Luanda as a key forum for shaping the continent’s air transport future. High-level sessions addressed airline business model adaptation, cost structures, partnerships, hub strategies, and the transformation of Angolan civil aviation, providing practical insights on route development, fleet planning, and regulatory frameworks. The AGA emphasized structural barriers to growth, including market access and fragmentation, and highlighted the importance of strategic hubs to enhance intra-African connectivity.

The Nigeria International Air Show (NIA), a new biennial aviation and aerospace event, held its inaugural edition from 2–4 December 2025 at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. The three-day event  brought together airlines, aircraft manufacturers, regulators, financiers, and other industry stakeholders to discuss key themes such as aviation infrastructure, safety, aircraft financing, MRO, advanced aerial mobility, and regional connectivity under AfCFTA and SAATM. The show featured impressive aerial demonstrations by the Nigerian Air Force alongside static aircraft displays, blending civil and defense aviation elements. Delivered through a Public-Private Partnership model with no direct government funding, the NIA aimed to attract global investment, cutting-edge technology, and industry expertise, while positioning Nigeria as a leading aviation hub in Africa.