African aviation forum seeks new perspectives

Cape Town - AviaDev, a dedicated aviation route development forum for Africa, has unveiled its agenda for 2017 with the aim of “inspiring a fresh perspective” in a sector that is facing a challenging operating environment.

Organised by Bench Events, AviaDev takes place in Kigali from October 10 to 12, and will run alongside the Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF).

According to the founder and managing director of AviaDev, Jon Howell, 2017 was stated as the year that the skies in Africa would open, but once again this seems to be no more than an empty promise.

"The theme of AviaDev 2017 is about challenging the status quo and inspiring a fresh perspective when it comes to building the African air routes of the future. That is why we are delighted to be hosting the event in Rwanda as it is actively shaping its future by investing in a new airport, new planes and view aviation as an economic catalyst, not just a means of transport or an industry that delivers tax revenue,” said Howell.

AviaDev attracts representatives from over 20 countries across Africa, Europe and the Middle East, as well as Africa’s largest airlines. Among those attending: RwandAir, ASKY, AWA, Air Djibouti, Air Mauritius, Brussels Airlines, Coastal Aviation, Ethiopian, 540, FlyART, Kenya Airways, Nile Air, Royal Air Maroc, Smile Air and South African Airways.

The conference facilitates pre-arranged one-to-one meetings between the route planners of the above airlines and those involved in building air services to, from and within Africa, and it has already seen new deals emerge.