IATA Focus Africa to Spotlight Safety, Connectivity, and Operational Efficiency

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that the 2026 edition of IATA Focus Africa Conference will convene under the theme 'Elevating Aviation Safety, Connectivity, and Operational Efficiency in Africa’ in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 29-30 April 2026, hosted by Ethiopian Airlines.

IATA Focus Africa 2026
- Event: Focus Africa Conference
- Dates: 29–30 April 2026
- Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Host: Ethiopian Airlines

Core Themes
- Safety enhancement: Strengthening standards and oversight to ensure secure skies.
- Connectivity: Expanding intra-African routes, harmonizing regulations, and advancing the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM).
- Operational efficiency: Streamlining processes, embracing digital innovation, and reducing costs across the aviation value chain.

Context
- Africa’s aviation sector has potential to support 3–4% annual growth.
- Since its launch in 2023, Focus Africa has driven initiatives such as:
- API-PNR rollout in 12 countries.
- New settlement systems in Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Ghana, and Ivory Coast.
- IATA Easy Pay introduced in Cameroon, Chad, Gabon, Congo, Mauritius, and Sierra Leone.

Key Speakers
- Kamil Alawadhi, IATA Regional VP for Africa & Middle East
- Mesfin Tasew, CEO, Ethiopian Airlines
- George Kamal, CEO, Kenya Airways
- Alemu Sime Feyisa, Minister of Transport & Logistics, Ethiopia
- Leaders from AFCAC, AFRAA, AASA, and other major aviation organizations

This conference is positioned as a strategic checkpoint: reviewing progress since 2023 and setting the next steps to unlock Africa’s aviation potential.