AviaDev Insight Africa

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

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

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
Find out more about Focus Africa

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

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
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