AviaDev Insight Africa
- Episodes
- 381
- Released
- weekly
- Latest episode
- May 27, 2026
About the podcast
Established in 2018, AviaDev Insight Africa is the premier podcast dedicated to African Aviation. We bring prominent industry voices to the table to establish the "ground truth" in both an informal and candid fashion. The podcast was created by Jon Howell, Founder and CEO of AviaDev Africa, Africa's premier event dedicated to developing air connectivity to, from, and within the African continent
Episodes 381
380. Washington Dulles International Airport. The natural gateway between Africa and the United States?
This episode explores how Washington Dulles International Airport is positioning itself as a key gateway between Africa and the United States. Featuring insights from Ariana McKnire, Director of Airline …
Show notes
This episode explores how Washington Dulles International Airport is positioning itself as a key gateway between Africa and the United States.
Featuring insights from Ariana McKnire, Director of Airline Business Development, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, the discussion covers route development, market opportunities, and the strategic importance of Washington's demographic and geographic advantages in African aviation connectivity.
CHAPTERS
00:00 - Introduction to Washington Dulles as a US-African gateway
01:38 - Demographics and market size in Washington DC
05:09 - Business climate and travel demand
08:31 - Focus on unserved routes and development prospects
12:21 - Connecting unserved African markets
14:52 - South African Airways' re-entry plans
16:46 - AviaDev and strategic partnerships
19:10 - Ariana's approach to route development
20:12 - Airport and airline collaboration for connectivity
21:15 - Final thoughts and upcoming events
Resources & Links:
Aviadev Africa: www.aviadev.com
Airbus Market Analysis Report https://www.airbus.com/en/about-us/our-worldwide-presence/airbus-in-africa-and-the-middle-east/airbus-in-africa
Washington Dulles International Airport https://www.mwaa.com/
379. From Runways to Real Estate: Unlocking Airport Investment Opportunities in Africa with NACO (Netherlands Airport Consultants)
In this episode of the AviaDev Insight Africa podcast, we delve into the strategies African airports can adopt to enhance non-aeronautical revenues and attract investment. Save the below infographic for more …
Show notes
In this episode of the AviaDev Insight Africa podcast, we delve into the strategies African airports can adopt to enhance non-aeronautical revenues and attract investment.
Save the below infographic for more insights and join us at AviaDev in Botswana for further discussions.
Hosted by Jon Howell, this episode features insights from Nelly Alandou, Jody Appollis, and Adam Ekman Pedersen of the NACO team.
Discover how African airports can diversify revenue streams and become economic hubs.
Chapters:
0:00 - Introduction
01:21 - Meet the NACO Team
02:42 - Revenue Stream diversification
04:17 - Non-Aeronautical Revenue opportunities for airports
06:18 - Real Estate Opportunities for Airports
08:28 - Economic Feasibility and Investment
11:15 - Network Positioning and Connectivity
14:37 - Land Use Planning Challenges
17:23 - Governance and Economic Infrastructure
22:26 - Upcoming Aviadev Panel Discussion
If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe, and share to help spread the word about the rising opportunities in African aviation.
378. The May 2026 AviaDev Insight Africa Connectivity Update with Sean Mendis and Behramjee Ghadially
Welcome to the May 2026 AviaDev Connectivity Update! Join host Jon Howell, Founder and CEO of AviaDev Africa, joined by Regular Guests and Aviation Consultants, Sean Mendis and Behramjee Ghadially as they dive …
Show notes
Welcome to the May 2026 AviaDev Connectivity Update! Join host Jon Howell, Founder and CEO of AviaDev Africa, joined by Regular Guests and Aviation Consultants, Sean Mendis and Behramjee Ghadially as they dive into the latest developments in African aviation.
TOPICS:
00:00 - Introduction and Overview
01:28 - Virgin Atlantic doubles down on South Africa
04:16 - KLM quietly grows Cape Town capacity
08:43 - South African Airways: new CEO, fresh cuts
16:56 - Airlink launches Cape Town–Zanzibar nonstop
25:27 - Turkish Airlines slashes African routes
35:43 - Qatar Airways' Return to Africa
39.24 - Air Tanzania's big ambitions
51:58 - Uganda Airlines' Operational Challenges
58:43 - Kenya Airways: what's new and next?
66:05 - Jambojet's low-cost regional push
76:16 - Air Botswana's Operational Issues
81:57 - Africa World Airlines eyes Conakry
83:54 - Ethiopian Airlines expands globally/ Air Congo's rapid expansion in the DRC/ Malawi Airlines adds Lubumbashi
93:49 - Air Peace cuts long-haul, buys narrowbodies
103:28 - United Nigeria eyes Johannesburg (exclusive)
106:29 - Air Côte d'Ivoire's Johannesburg Route
377. AviaDev's Connectivity update for April 2026. Etihad's 6 new Africa routes and key airline moves
In the 30th edition of the AviaDev Africa Connectivity Update, host Jon Howell is joined by usual guests, Aviation Consultants Sean Mendis and Behramjee Ghadially to review the biggest stories impacting African …
Show notes
In the 30th edition of the AviaDev Africa Connectivity Update, host Jon Howell is joined by usual guests, Aviation Consultants Sean Mendis and Behramjee Ghadially to review the biggest stories impacting African aviation
00:00 Welcome
02:33 Africa Market Pulse and impacts of the Iran War
13:12 Etihad's 6 new routes for Africa. Behramjee's take
24:22 Sean's take on Etihad's expansion
42:48 Uganda Airlines fleet and route update
46:28 SalamAir's new routes to Kigali and Mogadishu
52:16 ASKY Hints at a new Route
01:00:01 Turkish Airlines Boosts Mauritius frequencies
01:04:30 Ethiopian Eyes Mauritius
01:07:04 Air Tanzania to Seychelles update and reflections
01:10:46 Ethiopian increases Moscow service and firms aircraft order
01:16:30 Ethiopian's Gulf Recovery
01:18:10 The reality of Air Congo's Expansion
01:24:33 SAA leadership changes amidst audit fallout
01:29:27 Kenya Airways Bailout Rules
01:32:01 Air Peace new routes
01:40:43 Wrap Up and farewell
376. Air Ghana: Exploring new horizons with Jonathan Appiah, Head of Corporate Affairs
In this episode, Jon Howell hosts Jonathan Appiah of Air Ghana to explain the airline's background, ownership and strategy amid strong interest from attending delegates ahead of AviaDev. Jonathan recounts his …
Show notes
In this episode, Jon Howell hosts Jonathan Appiah of Air Ghana to explain the airline's background, ownership and strategy amid strong interest from attending delegates ahead of AviaDev.
Jonathan recounts his move from HR into commercial aviation at Africa World Airlines and his route-development experience.
He clarifies Air Ghana is a 100% Ghanaian-owned private company, with global cargo partnerships, a Ghanaian AOC and designation as a national cargo airline, investments in cold-chain/perishables, and leadership in the Ghana Airport Cargo Centre. We dive into Air Ghana's plans to launch domestic passenger services to address capacity and fare issues, targeting late 2026 or early 2027.
00:00 Intro
01:54 Jonathan's Aviation Journey
05:44 What is Air Ghana and what is it not?
10:43 Air Ghana's passenger airline plans
15:20 Why choose a Boeing 737?
18:01 Airport Infrastructure improvements
23:20 The operating environment in Ghana
29:11 Air Ghana's AviaDev Goals
34:17 Closing
375. Gateway to Opportunities: Botswana's connectivity ambitions with Capt. Thuto Toise, CEO, Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana (CAAB)
In this episode, we host Capt. Thuto Toise, the newly appointed CEO of the Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana, to discuss Botswana's aviation ambitions and its strategic decision to host AviaDev Africa 2026 …
Show notes
In this episode, we host Capt. Thuto Toise, the newly appointed CEO of the Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana, to discuss Botswana's aviation ambitions and its strategic decision to host AviaDev Africa 2026. Capt. Toise explains how improved air connectivity can drive economic growth through tourism, trade, investment, and regional integration, and why bringing airlines and decision-makers to Botswana enables meaningful route-development discussions. He outlines the Botswana Air Access initiative, launched in August 2024, which unites CAAB, tourism and hospitality bodies, travel agencies, investment authorities, and Air Botswana to deliver a coordinated, data-driven approach including incentives, market intelligence, and joint marketing. They explore priorities such as stronger domestic networks, expanded links to Africa, and direct long-haul services, while highlighting Botswana's unique landscapes, culture, and hospitality for visiting delegates.
01:08 Meet Captain Toise
02:24 Why Host AviaDev 2026?
05:05 An introduction to Botswana Air Access
07:00 Botswana's Air Connectivity Priorities
10:10 Botswana's Pitch to Airlines
13:20 The delegate experience in Botswana
16:39 Closing
374. Focus Africa: IATA's Kamil Al-Awadhi's vision for a brighter aviation future
In this episode, host Jon Howell hosts IATA's Regional VP for Africa and the Middle East, Kamil Al-Awadhi, to discuss why SAATM has seen little progress since its 2018 signing, citing state protectionism …
Show notes
In this episode, host Jon Howell hosts IATA's Regional VP for Africa and the Middle East, Kamil Al-Awadhi, to discuss why SAATM has seen little progress since its 2018 signing, citing state protectionism, limited collaboration, and slow decision-making across ministries. They explore the economics of operating airlines in Africa, including fuel accounting for about 30–35% of airline costs and being around 17% higher in Africa, plus rising airport, airspace, and API/PNR charges that can add up to $50 per leg and deter tourism. Al-Awadhi describes IATA's advocacy efforts, claiming about 75% success in reducing or stopping fee increases, and argues that Africa does not have too many airlines, but needs better intra-African connectivity and partnerships. They preview the IATA Focus Africa event in Addis Ababa (29–30 April), highlighting SAATM discussions and two safety initiatives aimed at reducing Africa's higher accident rate.
00:00 Welcome and episode preview
01:05 Meet Kamil Al-Awadhi
02:05 SAATM progress and frustrations
06:12 IATA's role in convincing African governments to open their skies
11:34 The ongoing bilateral grind and headwinds impacting airlines
13:53 High operating costs in Africa: fuel, taxes and fees and where IATA is making progress
19:29 IATA's work to push back on new charges
21:12 Airline partnerships and market fragmentation
26:09 Focus Africa goals and safety push
28:38 Who should attend Focus Africa and closing remarks
373. AviaDev's March 2026 Connectivity Update with Behramjee Ghadially and Sean Mendis
In the March 2026 AviDev Africa connectivity update, host Jon Howell and consultants Sean Mendis and Behramjee Ghadially discuss how the Iran war and GCC corridor disruption are reshaping Africa-related air …
Show notes
In the March 2026 AviDev Africa connectivity update, host Jon Howell and consultants Sean Mendis and Behramjee Ghadially discuss how the Iran war and GCC corridor disruption are reshaping Africa-related air travel, creating short-term transit gains for Ethiopian, Kenya Airways, Uganda Airlines and Air Peace but driving major fare increases, insurance constraints, and severe jet-fuel supply-chain risks that could lead to rationing and technical stops.
They review Ethiopian's schedule changes and debate the Atlanta restart, analyze Kenya Airways' Gatwick increase alongside worsening financial results, and detail Uganda Airlines' operational crisis, leadership changes, and wet-leased Ethiopian 787 operations.
The episode also critiques Air Tanzania's planned Seychelles launch, covers Air Seychelles' wet-lease adjustments, notes Air Transat postponing Toronto–Accra, highlights Africa World Airlines' move to Embraer 190s, summarizes Air Peace's West Africa network retiming and Caribbean resumption, and discusses Enugu Air's AOC transition and ambitious fleet-growth claims.
00:00 March Update Kickoff
02:40 The Impact of the Iran war on Africa
05:04 Fuel Supply Crunch and impact
10:00 Fare and Load Factor Shock
20:43 How will Gulf Carriers react?
31:23 Kenya Airways Gatwick Boost
35:06 Kenya Airways Results And Outlook
42:10 Ethiopian Airlines to launch Atlanta Debate
44:24 Uganda Airlines Turmoil
51:58 Air Tanzania Seychelles Route
57:07 Indigo XLR Pivot to Africa
01:04:48 Indigo Strategy and Leadership Shift
01:09:43 Air Seychelles Wet Lease
01:16:25 Air Transat Shelves Toronto - Accra route
01:20:12 Africa World Airlines Adds E190
01:23:55 Air Peace Regional Network Shakeup
01:33:12 Enugu Air Fleet Growth
01:37:47 Wrap Up and Next Episode
372. From Reputation to Revenue: Building a strong airline brand with Rahsaan Johnson, brand expert
In this episode of AviaDev Insight Africa, we speak to Rahsaan Johnson, former Managing Director of Global Communications at Delta, with 13 years at United, about what "brand" means for airlines and why it …
Show notes
In this episode of AviaDev Insight Africa, we speak to Rahsaan Johnson, former Managing Director of Global Communications at Delta, with 13 years at United, about what "brand" means for airlines and why it drives profitability and resilience.
Johnson defines brand as the emotions and adjectives customers associate with an airline, shaped by reputation and lived experience, and argues the foundation of a strong airline brand is "clean, safe, reliable."
He explains how a strong brand increases the willingness to pay among schedule-sensitive travelers, and why African airlines should build brands even on monopoly routes, because competition often arrives with liberalization.
00:00 Welcome and Setup
00:47 Meet Rahsaan Johnson
01:44 What Brand Means
04:18 Building Strong Brands
06:43 Brand Drives Revenue
09:54 Why Brand Matters Africa
14:43 Common Brand Mistakes
16:01 Boarding Friction Story
19:48 Stress Before Takeoff
20:18 Customer First Decisions
21:05 Gate Anxiety Explained
22:18 United App Reduces Stress
25:43 Feedback and NPS Surveys
27:26 Modern Digital Expectations
29:08 Values and Emotional Connection
30:44 Positioning for Everyone
32:42 Sponsorships Without Polarizing
34:26 Segmenting Products Profitably
37:02 Setting Expectations Over Time
38:42 Wrap Up and Farewell
371. Live stage session at BARSA: Leadership Dialogue: Reframing Africa's Aviation Narrative with Prof. Bonang Mohale & Hamish Erskine, CEO, Dube Trade Port
This a special podcast episode recorded on 6th March 2026 as part of the Board of Airline Representatives of South Africa Annual Conference. In the episode, Professor Mohale argues Africa's economic and …
Show notes
This a special podcast episode recorded on 6th March 2026 as part of the Board of Airline Representatives of South Africa Annual Conference.
In the episode, Professor Mohale argues Africa's economic and aviation story is often told by outsiders, calling for Africans to own the narrative and emphasizing leadership defined by vision, courage, and integrity.
The discussion contrasts management and leadership, critiques reliance on bureaucracy as a refuge from accountability, and highlights how colonial-era boundaries and continued dependence undermine African prosperity and unity.
Erskine frames bureaucracy as a tool of power that can stifle agility, urges regional and continental integration, as evidence of benefits from opening skies and trade.
00:00 Welcome and Setup
00:29 Meet the Guests
02:39 Live Session Begins
04:48 Who Tells Africas Story?
09:47 Leadership Gap and Reset
14:52 Leadership vs Management
21:13 Bureaucracy and Ownership
25:13 Open Skies Proof Points
27:28 Integration Beyond Borders
33:02 Regional Integration Lessons
36:20 Closing Takeaways
370. ValueJet. Innovating to stay ahead by creating Viki - Their AI concierge powered by Kiu
In this episode, we explore the innovative journey of ValueJet, a Nigerian airline that has recently introduced Viki, the first AI concierge in Africa. Temi Adjijola, the head of business program and IT at …
Show notes
In this episode, we explore the innovative journey of ValueJet, a Nigerian airline that has recently introduced Viki, the first AI concierge in Africa.
Temi Adjijola, the head of business program and IT at Value Jet, discusses the airline's mission to make flying accessible to more people in Nigeria, where air travel is still underutilized. Joining Temi is Rodger Whittle, Commercial Director and Juan Felipe Restrepo, Chief Product Officer at KIU System Solutions who created Viki and provide over 70 airlines worldwide with a comprehensive, cloud-based, AI-powered suite of IT services for airlines, focusing on Passenger Service Systems (PSS), Departure Control Systems (DCS), and a proprietary Global Distribution System (GDS).
The conversation delves into the challenges faced by the airline industry in Nigeria, the adoption of technology to enhance customer experience, and the significant role of AI in streamlining operations and improving service delivery.
The guests also share insights on the future of AI in aviation, including potential applications in customer service, operational efficiency, and revenue management.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Value Jet and AI Concierge
06:42 Value Jet's Business Model and Market Positioning
12:45 The Role of AI in Enhancing Customer Experience
20:22 Industry Feedback and Adoption of AI Solutions
28:06 Future Applications of AI in Aviation
38:53 Expansion Plans and Strategic Growth for Value Jet
369. AviaDev's February 2025 Africa Connectivity Update with Sean Mendis and Behramjee Ghadially
*Subscribe to our mailing list to never miss another episode and stay up to date with event news: https://www.aviadev.com/keep-me-updated In this episode, we cover the latest route and fleet developments in …
Show notes
*Subscribe to our mailing list to never miss another episode and stay up to date with event news: https://www.aviadev.com/keep-me-updated
In this episode, we cover the latest route and fleet developments in African aviation.
Clarification on the FlySafair sale
Uganda Airlines - management changes, fleet changes, route changes
Kenya Airways next steps. Can they secure an investor/ partner? - both Singapore and Qatar have denied interest
Ethiopian update (adding a 4th daily Dubai, second daily Bamako - Dakar, cutting Nacala)
Air Congo regional expansion - speculation on Europe?
Eswatini Air to add Lusaka to their Harare service
QR cutting KGL frequencies
United Nigeria Airlines - update on fleet and potential routes
Air India orders A321XLRs - Africa bound?
368. Connecting Africa with Embraer. A recap of the top 10 unserved intra sub-Saharan African routes with Theo Wensink, Head of Airline Marketing, Middle East and Africa
In this episode, Host Jon Howell sits down with Theo Wensink, Head of Airline Marketing, Middle East and Africa at Embraer to discuss the "Connecting Africa" report which premiered at AviaDev Africa 2025 …
Show notes
In this episode, Host Jon Howell sits down with Theo Wensink, Head of Airline Marketing, Middle East and Africa at Embraer to discuss the "Connecting Africa" report which premiered at AviaDev Africa 2025.
Providing commentary and insight into the findings are regular podcast contributors, aviation consultants Sean Mendis and Behramjee Ghadially.
Together, they explore why the report was created, the methodology, and then we count down the top unserved routes from 10 to 1, identifying which have the best chance of being served and by whom.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Connecting Africa Report 01:23 Embraer's Footprint in Africa 08:44 Methodology Behind the Report 13:21 Countdown of Top 10 Routes: Brazzaville to Dakar 23:02 Countdown of Top 10 Routes: Douala to Dakar 28:55 Countdown of Top 10 Routes: Cape Town to Dar es Salaam 36:44 Countdown of Top 10 Routes: Abuja to Nairobi 44:00 Connecting Africa: The Abuja to Nairobi Route 44:24 Bamako to Brazzaville: Humanitarian and Diplomatic Links 53:10 Cotonou to Dakar: Trade and Student Travel 59:00 Cape Town to Lagos: Business and Leisure Dynamics 01:05:54 Dakar to Libreville: Oil and Banking Connections 01:10:46 Lusaka to Cape Town: Mining and Tourism Opportunities 01:20:37 Abidjan to Douala: The Unserved Route Potential
367. Introducing Mentortude with Chidozie Uzoezie, Founder, African Aviation Group
In this episode of AviaDev Insight Africa, host Jon Howell speaks with Chidozie Uzoezie, founder of the African Aviation Group (AAG), about the impact of the group on aspiring aviators in Africa. They discuss …
Show notes
In this episode of AviaDev Insight Africa, host Jon Howell speaks with Chidozie Uzoezie, founder of the African Aviation Group (AAG), about the impact of the group on aspiring aviators in Africa. They discuss the challenges and opportunities in the African aviation industry, the launch of Mentortude, an all-inclusive mentorship platform, and the upcoming Fireside Chat event aimed at empowering the next generation of aviation professionals.
Find out more: https://www.mentortude.com/
Chidozie emphasizes the importance of mentorship, community, and access to information in shaping the future of aviation in Africa.
00:00 Introduction to African Aviation and Chidozie Uzoezie
03:09 The Impact of the African Aviation Group
06:07 Optimism for the Future of African Aviation
08:52 Introducing Mentitude: A New Mentorship Initiative
11:56 The Upcoming Fireside Chat Event
14:41 Closing Thoughts and Future Aspirations
366. The Bishoftu Airport Project. The start of Africa's connectivity revolution? With Miretab Tesfaye, Aviation Consultant
In this episode of AviaDev Insight Africa, Jon Howell speaks with aviation consultant Miretab Tesfaye about the ambitious Bishoftu Airport project in Ethiopia. They discuss the airport's projected capacity, the …
Show notes
In this episode of AviaDev Insight Africa, Jon Howell speaks with aviation consultant Miretab Tesfaye about the ambitious Bishoftu Airport project in Ethiopia.
They discuss the airport's projected capacity, the strategic advantages and opportunities for Ethiopian Airlines, and the challenges it faces in a competitive Global aviation market.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Bishoftu Airport Project
05:03 Miretab's Journey and Experience
09:25 Overview of Bishoftu Airport Details
16:17 Ethiopian Airlines' Competitive Advantage
22:58 Challenges and Opportunities for Ethiopian Airlines
29:51 Future of Bishoftu Airport and Its Impact
365. Exploring South Africa's aviation landscape and counting down to BARSA 2026 with George Mothema, CEO
In this episode, we speak with George Mothema, CEO of the Board of Airline Representatives of South Africa (BARSA), to review the state of South African aviation in 2026 and preview the upcoming BARSA …
Show notes
In this episode, we speak with George Mothema, CEO of the Board of Airline Representatives of South Africa (BARSA), to review the state of South African aviation in 2026 and preview the upcoming BARSA conference in KwaZulu-Natal.
George highlights positive market developments including shareholding changes at Safair, Qatar's 25% stake in Airlink, and SAA adding new routes as it rebuilds.
Key challenges discussed include ATNS's past neglect of instrument and flight procedure redesigns that led to suspended procedures and losses for airlines serving secondary airports, aging CNS equipment requiring manual workarounds, delayed airport maintenance by ACSA with noted improvements at OR Tambo, and border management bottlenecks such as long passport-control queues and delays implementing e-gates due to slow biometric systems and aging platforms.
Find out more: https://barsa.co.za/
00:00 Welcome to AviaDev Insight Africa + Introducing BARSA CEO George Mothema
01:17 South Africa Aviation 2026: The Good News (market shakeups, new investors, SAA routes)
04:21 The Bad News: ATNS flight procedure suspensions & air traffic systems upgrades
06:23 Airport maintenance & border control bottlenecks
08:27 Policy & safety snapshot: civil aviation policy balance
11:39 Regional recovery & why BARSA is heading to KwaZulu-Natal (Durban)
15:43 Conference theme reveal: "Destination Africa" and what it means
16:07 Program deep dive
22:34 Who should attend BARSA 2026
30:48 Wrap-up.
364. From Accra to the World. Outlining Africa World Airlines' Fleet and Route Growth with Sohail Mahmood, Chief Operating Officer
In this episode, the focus is on Africa World Airlines (AWA) and its new Chief Operating Officer, Sohail Mahmood Sohail shares his aviation journey so far and what attracted him to join AWA. We then delve into …
Show notes
In this episode, the focus is on Africa World Airlines (AWA) and its new Chief Operating Officer, Sohail Mahmood
Sohail shares his aviation journey so far and what attracted him to join AWA.
We then delve into the foundational strengths of AWA, including its hub and spoke model operating out of Accra, Ghana, and the reasons for its resilience.
We then move to fleet and route strategy, where Sohail hints at potential expansion on both fronts in 2026, before wrapping up with a discussion on the strategic importance of partnerships and interline agreements to enhance AWA's route network and market presence.
363. January's AviaDev Africa Connectivity update and 2025 Awards announcements
This session was live-streamed on 26th January 2026. To stay up to date with all things AviaDev, sign up at https://www.aviadev.com/keep-me-updated As always, we are joined by our trusted pair — Behramjee …
Show notes
This session was live-streamed on 26th January 2026.
To stay up to date with all things AviaDev, sign up at https://www.aviadev.com/keep-me-updated
As always, we are joined by our trusted pair — Behramjee Ghadially and Sean Mendis.
Chapters:
2025 AviaDev Award winners announcements
Ethiopian Airlines S26 network updates
Impact of updated US travel restrictions on Africa demand in 2026
Qatar Airways frequency increases to South Africa
TAAG's planned Guangzhou service on 787
Air Sierra Leone Banjul–London Gatwick
fastJet cutting LUN-HRE flights
Airlink increasing Lilongwe flights and looking at ordering 30 E175-E2s to replace E135/140 fleet.
SAA-Cemair codeshare agreement
Kenya Airways 777-300ER returns on LHR from June
Uganda Airlines A330 issues
Air Tanzania finally launching Accra 28JAN26?
Air Côte d'Ivoire longhaul schedule updates
WRAPUP
- Air Zimbabwe's US$775m turnaround and fleet replacement plan
- Delta's 787-10 order and implications for Africa
- Enugu Air's E195 expansion and virtual airline model
- Oman Air to Kigali?
- FlyNAS launching Abha to Addis Ababa 2x weekly
- Air Algerie 2x weekly ALG-NDJ-ADD starting March 2026
362. Cape Town's Hub Potential : Insights from Katherine Nicholls, MSc Air Transport Management Graduate
Katherine Nicholls is a South African who recently graduated from the University of Surrey with an MSc in Air Transport Management. Her dissertation focused on the potential for Cape Town to evolve from a …
Show notes
Katherine Nicholls is a South African who recently graduated from the University of Surrey with an MSc in Air Transport Management.
Her dissertation focused on the potential for Cape Town to evolve from a destination airport into a major aviation hub.
Learn about Katherine's research, which combines network analysis, connectivity data, and broader market factors.
Discover the roles of regional and international connectivity, infrastructural challenges, the impact of home-based carriers, and the future of Cape Town's aviation landscape.
361. AviaDev Insight Africa Awards 2025
This is an audio recording of the annual AviaDev Insight Africa Awards, which was also live-streamed via the AviaDev YouTube channel and Jon Howell's personal LinkedIn page. Join our monthly podcast guests …
Show notes
This is an audio recording of the annual AviaDev Insight Africa Awards, which was also live-streamed via the AviaDev YouTube channel and Jon Howell's personal LinkedIn page.
Join our monthly podcast guests, Sean Mendis and Behramjee Ghadially, who have been working independently (no collusion here!) to pick their nominees across these much-debated categories:
✈ New Intercontinental Africa Route of the Year
✈ New Intra-Africa Route of the Year
✈ Best Intercontinental "Expansion" Route of the Year
✈ Worst Route Decision of the Year
✈ Route Suspension of the Year
✈ Surprise Route of the Year
✈ Most Sensible Commercial Decision of the Year by an African airline
Expect strong opinions, healthy debate, and possibly a few raised eyebrows!
A reminder that the views expressed are those of my guests and not necessarily those of AviaDev.
360. AviaDev's December 2025 Africa Connectivity Update with Sean Mendis and Behramjee Ghadially
*Subscribe to our mailing list to never miss another episode and stay up to date with event news: https://www.aviadev.com/keep-me-updated In this episode, we cover the latest route and fleet developments in …
Show notes
*Subscribe to our mailing list to never miss another episode and stay up to date with event news: https://www.aviadev.com/keep-me-updated
In this episode, we cover the latest route and fleet developments in African aviation.
Topics include:
02:51 Ethiopian Airlines' Fleet Expansion at Dubai Air Show with more A350-900 and 737 Max 8s
11:10 Air Senegal's Surprising Boeing "Order" of 15 Boeing 737 MAX 8s
21:08 Air Côte d'Ivoire's landmark Embraer 4 x E175 Order.
33:53 Ethiopian Airlines and Air Congo's ATR 72-600 Order
36:43 Flydubai's Massive Aircraft Orders from Airbus and Boeing and what it could mean for Africa
43:49 Emirates' New Routes to Cape Town and Nairobi
48:47 Kenya's Aviation Policy and Market Access Issues, plus challenges Facing Kenya Airways
01:00:33 Air Transat's New Routes to West Africa (Dakar, Senegal and Accra, Ghana)
01:14:32 Air Tanzania's New Vic Falls - Cape Town route
01:20:04 Farewell and AviaDev Connectivity Update 2025 Awards preview
This month's guests are:
Sean Mendis, Aviation Consultant. CONNECT WITH SEAN
Behramjee Ghadially, Aviation Consultant. CONNECT WITH BEHRAMJEE
359. Fortifying African Airlines: Pathways to Financial Health with Raphael Haddad, President, Jetcraft Commercial
Subscribe to our mailing list to never miss another episode and stay up to date with event news: https://www.aviadev.com/keep-me-updated This episode was recorded Tuesday 2nd December on location in Luanda …
Show notes
Subscribe to our mailing list to never miss another episode and stay up to date with event news: https://www.aviadev.com/keep-me-updated
This episode was recorded Tuesday 2nd December on location in Luanda, Angola, during the 57th AFRAA AGA.
Join Jon Howell, Founder and CEO of AviaDev Africa, as he sits down with Raphael Haddad, President of Jetcraft Commercial, to discuss fleet growth, financing, and the future of African connectivity.
Raphael shares his insights on supply chain challenges, risk perception, airline financing, and the impact of Nigeria signing the Cape Town Convention. They also explore trends in aircraft acquisition, leasing, and fleet composition for the next decade.
Find out more about Jetcraft Commercial
358. Is AFCAC delivering on its bold aviation ambitions? A conversation with Adefunke Adeyemi, Secretary General
Subscribe to our mailing list to never miss another episode and stay up to date with event news: https://www.aviadev.com/keep-me-updated In this episode, we feature Adefunke Adeyemi, Secretary-General of the …
Show notes
Subscribe to our mailing list to never miss another episode and stay up to date with event news: https://www.aviadev.com/keep-me-updated
In this episode, we feature Adefunke Adeyemi, Secretary-General of the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), as she begins her second term.
Host Jon Howell, CEO and Founder of AviaDev Africa, asks the tough questions regarding implementation, disputes, enforcement, and opportunities.
- Reflections on the first term as SG
- What do you say to SAATM skeptics?
- How many countries can be classified as "SAATM Operational" today?
- Is AFCAC going to publish a YD compliance scorecard?
- What is the dispute resolution process if any airline is denied traffic rights?
- What punitive measures can AFCAC take?
- How can AFCAC ensure it represents airlines of all shapes, sizes and ownership structures?
- KPIs for SG's next 3-year term as AFCAC SG
357. From Vision to Reality: The Cape Winelands Airport Journey with Mark Wilkinson, Director
In this episode, we feature the exciting development of Cape Winelands Airport in the Western Cape, South Africa. Jon is joined by Mark Wilkinson, Director, and together, they discuss the project's inception …
Show notes
In this episode, we feature the exciting development of Cape Winelands Airport in the Western Cape, South Africa.
Jon is joined by Mark Wilkinson, Director, and together, they discuss the project's inception, environmental impact assessment approval, collaboration with Cape Town Air Access, NACO, and Growthpoint, and the significant economic and aviation impacts.
This episode provides a comprehensive overview of the airport's vision to transform an old military airfield into a full commercial international airport, unlocking business opportunities and supporting sustainable growth in the region.
356. AviaDev's November 2025 Africa Connectivity Update with Sean Mendis and Behramjee Ghadially
In this episode, we cover the latest route and fleet developments in African aviation. Topics include: SAA's new Johannesburg - Gaborone route and fleet RFP Proflight Zambia's new Maun route via Livingstone …
Show notes
In this episode, we cover the latest route and fleet developments in African aviation.
Topics include:
SAA's new Johannesburg - Gaborone route and fleet RFP
Proflight Zambia's new Maun route via Livingstone
Airlink's new Zanzibar route from June on E2 Airlink to Nacala from Feb 2026 Airlink is increasing Blantyre to daily
Malawi Airlines Liliongwe to Johannesburg increased to 10x weekly New Lilongwe to Entebbe route 4x weekly
Air Cote d'Ivoire to Beirut from Jan 26
Lufthansa Group's Africa expansion Brussels airlines to open Kilimanjaro Nairobi-Frankfurt on LH increased from 5 weekly to daily Munich to Johannesburg to move to year-round Zurich to Windhoek new route on Edelweiss Discover to add A350s Frankfurt to Seychelles to become year-round
Air Seychelles to go daily to Abu Dhabi
Air Peace's Caribbean charter flights
Ethiopian increasing Rome to double daily from 1 June 2026
This month's guests are:
Sean Mendis, Aviation Consultant. CONNECT WITH SEAN
Behramjee Ghadially, Aviation Consultant. CONNECT WITH BEHRAMJEE
355. Bridging the gap. Reflections on the ICAO NGAP event with 3 AviaDev Ambassadors
In this episode of AviaDev Insight Africa, host Jon Howell speaks with three inspirational AviaDev ambassadors—Mahek Shah, Usman Cisse, and Ellah Wafula about their experiences at the recent ICAO Next …
Show notes
In this episode of AviaDev Insight Africa, host Jon Howell speaks with three inspirational AviaDev ambassadors—Mahek Shah, Usman Cisse, and Ellah Wafula about their experiences at the recent ICAO Next Generation of Aviation Professionals event in Durban, August 2025.
Supported by Airlink, these young aviators not only attended the event but also spoke to a global audience.
They discuss their backgrounds, motivations, and key insights gained from the summit.
The conversation highlights the importance of mentorship, structured pathways, and collaboration across generations to empower the future leaders of the African aviation industry.
They also emphasize the role of social media in engaging and inspiring the next generation.
The episode includes reflections on the impact and legacy of such events and calls for more structured support to bridge the gap for young aviation enthusiasts in Africa.
Connect with Ousman on LinkedIn
Connect with Mahek on LinkedIn
Follow Wings for Women on Instagram
Find out more about Wings for Women
354. To Gaborone and Beyond: Exploring SAA's New Horizons with Tebogo Tsimane, CCO
In this episode of AviaDev Insight Africa, Jon welcomes SAA's CCO, Tebogo Tsimane. Together, they dive into SAA's upcoming 4th November route launch, Johannesburg to Gaborone, and explore the strategic and …
Show notes
In this episode of AviaDev Insight Africa, Jon welcomes SAA's CCO, Tebogo Tsimane.
Together, they dive into SAA's upcoming 4th November route launch, Johannesburg to Gaborone, and explore the strategic and operational reasons behind this move.
They then move into a discussion around SAA's fleet expansion and modernization plans, including their partnership with Turkish carrier Sun Express and the expected launch of new long-haul and regional routes.
Tebogo emphasizes the importance of densifying current markets and strengthening partnerships with travel agents.
353. Building a better connected and more resilient future for African aviation with SITA
In this episode of Avia Dev Insight Africa, host Jon Howell, CEO and founder of AviaDev Africa, discusses the latest developments in communications and technology in African aviation with Yann Cabaret, CEO of …
Show notes
In this episode of Avia Dev Insight Africa, host Jon Howell, CEO and founder of AviaDev Africa, discusses the latest developments in communications and technology in African aviation with Yann Cabaret, CEO of SITA for Aircraft, and Martin Smillie, Senior Vice President, The Communications Services Business Unit
The episode focuses on how targeted investments in technology can enhance operational efficiency, build resilience, and improve the bottom line for African airports and airlines.
352. From Angola to the World. An update on TAAG's transformation with Miguel Carneiro, CCO
In this episode, host Jon Howell speaks with Miguel Carneiro, the Chief Commercial Officer of TAAG Angola Airlines. The discussion covers TAAG's ambitious transformation over the past year, including the …
Show notes
In this episode, host Jon Howell speaks with Miguel Carneiro, the Chief Commercial Officer of TAAG Angola Airlines.
The discussion covers TAAG's ambitious transformation over the past year, including the induction of new aircraft, new and reinstated routes, and the move to the new International airport.
Miguel shares insights about the airline's recent fleet expansions, deploying Boeing 787 and A220 aircraft, and the importance of building a robust African network.
351. Connecting Africa: A new era of regional expansion for Proflight Zambia with Keira Langford-Johnson, Business Development Director
Join Jon Howell, Founder and CEO of AviaDev Africa, as he hosts a special video podcast from Lusaka at the Airlines Association of Southern Africa's Annual General Assembly. to watch the video, head to this …
Show notes
Join Jon Howell, Founder and CEO of AviaDev Africa, as he hosts a special video podcast from Lusaka at the Airlines Association of Southern Africa's Annual General Assembly. to watch the video, head to this link
In this episode, Jon speaks with Keira Langford-Johnson, the Business Development Director at Proflight Zambia.
They discuss exciting new route announcements, including Lusaka-Livingstone-Maun and Lusaka-Livingstone-Windhoek, the regulatory and developmental processes behind these routes, and the specific challenges and considerations in regional aviation route development.
They also delve into the fleet specifics and future expansion plans of Prof Flight Zambia.
This episode offers valuable insights for those interested in the African aviation industry, route development, and tourism connectivity.
01:03 Announcing the New Lusaka-Livingstone-Maun Route
02:18 The Route Development Process and role of AviaDev Africa
07:28 Discussing the Second Route: Lusaka-Livingstone-Windhoek
11:31 Fleet Expansion and Future Plans
13:58 Closing Remarks and Future Outlook
These are the latest 40 of 381 episodes. You’ll find older episodes in the podcast’s feed.
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