Kigali, 13th November 2017; Under the patronage of the Government of the Republic of Rwanda, RwandAir is hosting African airlines top executives, industry manufacturers, service providers and other stakeholders in aviation across Africa and the world forthe 49th Annual General Assembly (AGA) and summit of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA). RwandAir is playing host to this important annual event which was last held in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, in November 2016. The conference was officially opened by Honorable Ngirente Edouard, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Rwanda and proceedings of the two-day event will be chaired by the Acting Chief Executive Officer of RwandAir, Chance Ndagano, the President of AFRAA.
Convened under the theme “Rethinking strategies for airline profitability in Africa”, the conference has registered over 450 high profile aviation delegates from 52 countries in Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Australia, North and South America. Issues of market access, liberalization, cooperation, safety, infrastructure development, the environment will take centre stage at this year’s summit. The AFRAA AGA is the premier gathering of senior global aviation executives in Africa. Annually, it brings together global aviation leaders, aircraft/engine manufacturers, service providers and suppliers to take stock of aviation development and plan the future. Air transport in Africa is an economic bridge – linking people, goods and capital to markets and industries and integrating the vast continent.”
According to the President of AFRAA, Ag. CEO of RwandAir, Chance Ndagano, “The AGA will not only discuss critical topics related to aviation industry broadly such as barriers to the implementation of the Yamoussoukro Declaration to reach our goal of having one African sky, but it is also an important platform for suppliers and consumers in the aviation sector to meet and exchange business ideas.”
Dr. Elijah Chingosho, Secretary General of AFRAA said, “The AGA will evaluate the growing air transport opportunities in Africa and how operators can provide safe, reliable, efficient and profitable air services to support the continent’s development. By taking stock of the market realities, African airlines will be able to mobilize the necessary resources and forge partnerships to grow their market share.”
The Secretary General of AFRAA is expected to present a detailed state of the industry in Africa report highlighting the achievements, challenges and plans for the future. His presentation and the address by IATA VP Africa on behalf of the Director General 2&CEO of IATA, Alexandre de Juniac, will set the tone for discussions of the two day summit.
The 49th AFRAA AGA is expected to conclude with the adoption of a number of resolutions urging airlines, governments and other stakeholders to act in concert to advance the course of African aviation. AFRAA will also use the occasion to present Awards to individuals and companies that distinguished themselves in the industry in 2016.
On the sidelines of the Assembly and summit will be exhibition of aviation, equipment, component, supplies, IT solutions. Other exhibitors include training resources, consultancy, financial and aircraft leasing service providers. In all, 31 companies will be exhibiting at the AGA. Also participating in the 49th AFRAA AGA will be ICAO, IATA, AFCAC, civil aviation authorities, airport companies, air navigation services providers as well as aircraft and engine manufacturers, component suppliers, and many other service providers.
Notes for Editors
About RwandAir
From its hub at the heart of Africa at Kigali International Airport, RwandAir is reputed for its excellent on-time performance, customer service and safety, and has one of the youngest fleet on the African continent. RwandAir is an IATA and AFRAA member airline and is IOSA, ISAGO and EASA certified. With a fleet of twelve aircraft including two wide-body Airbus A330 acquired last year, the airline currently reaches out to twenty-four destinations across East, Central, West and Southern Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Asia.
This year, RwandAir started flights to Mumbai, Harare, London (Gatwick) and Brussels. RwandAir also introduced flights to Dakar, Abidjan, Libreville and Brazzaville from its new hub in Cotonou and will start operations to Bamako and Conakry from the same hub by the end of December this year. Next year, the airline’s ever growing network will spread to Guangzhou in China and to New York, in the USA.
For more information, please contact:
RwandAir Head Office
Kigali International Airport, Top Floor
Kigali, Rwanda
Tel: (+250) 788 177 000
Email:communications@rwandair.com
Website: www.rwandair.data-wings.com
About AFRAA
The African Airlines Association, also known by its acronym AFRAA, is a trade
association of airlines from the member states of the African Union (AU). Founded in Accra, Ghana, in April, 1968, and headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, the primary purposes of AFRAA are to foster commercial and technical co-operation among African airlines and to represent their common interests.
AFRAA membership of 30 airlines cuts across the entire continent and includes all the major intercontinental African operators. The Association members represent over80% of total international traffic carried by African airlines. Currently, the Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of Kenya Airways, Dr. Titus Naikuni is the President of AFRAA.
For more information, please contact:
The Secretary General
AFRAA Secretariat
Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: +254 20 2320144/2320148
Email: afraa@afraa.org
Website: www.afraa.org