322. The Sustainable Aviation Fuel revolution with AfriSAF's Kwame Bekoe
Release Date: 04/16/2025
340. AviaDev's June 2025 Africa Connectivity Update with Sean Mendis and Behramjee Ghadially
AviaDev Insight Africa
Welcome to the June edition of the AviaDev Insight Africa Connectivity update for 2025, hosted by Jon Howell, CEO and Founder of AviaDev Africa. This month's guests are: Sean Mendis, Aviation Consultant. Behramjee Ghadially, Aviation Consultant. Topics covered this month: The impact of the Trump travel ban on Africa's airlines, with a deep dive into Ethiopian Airlines' next moves in the market Kenya Airways and Qatar Airways announcement on 1st July and what it could mean, plus a brief discussion on the fleet and growth plan (more to come next month) Airlink's...
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339. AviaDev Tourism and Aviation Connectivity Forum 25 Panel session: Moving the needle: Driving policy change to improve air access
AviaDev Insight Africa
This session was recorded 11th June in Zanzibar. In this session, industry leaders discuss the critical aspects of tourism and aviation policy integration within the African context. The panel reviews the vital role of private sector and government collaboration, and the importance of regional connectivity. Key points address the economic impact of improved air access, the challenges posed by protectionist policies, and the necessity for a data-driven approach. The discourse emphasizes actionable steps like fostering deeper cooperation between tourism bodies and aviation authorities and...
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338. AviaDev Tourism and Aviation Connectivity Forum 25 Panel session: The power of partnership: How airports, destinations and airlines collaborate to grow connectivity
AviaDev Insight Africa
This session was recorded 11th June in Zanzibar. This engaging session features real-life examples from Namibia, Madagascar, and Zambia. Moderated by Francis Doku, the discussion dives into how airlines, airports, and tourism boards can work together to overcome barriers such as high costs, regulatory challenges, and the lack of data-driven strategies. The panelists, representing different sectors, emphasize the need for shared data, trust, government support, and innovative marketing to create successful partnerships. They also highlight the significant impact of external support in...
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AviaDev Africa 25 Panel session: Flightpath to growth: Rethinking ownership, market access and unlocking capital for African airlines
AviaDev Insight Africa
This session was recorded on Thursday, 12th June, at the AviaDev Africa event in Zanzibar. Key topics include ownership models, market access barriers, regulatory challenges, and strategies to unlock capital and promote growth in the sector. Panelists share their perspectives on the significance of liberalizing the air transport market through initiatives like SAATM, the importance of risk management, and the critical need for investments in local talent and infrastructure. Despite diverse views, there is a consensus on the necessity for enhanced regulatory reforms and regional cooperation to...
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AviaDev Africa 25 Panel Session "Maximising non-aeronautical revenue: Balancing revenue growth, efficiency and customer service experience in Africa's airports"
AviaDev Insight Africa
This session was recorded on Friday, 13th June, at the AviaDev Africa event in Zanzibar. The panel discuss innovative strategies for increasing revenue, enhancing passenger satisfaction, and leveraging real estate development around airports. Success stories from Zanzibar and Guinea exemplify effective modernization and operational efficiency while maintaining customer experience. Additionally, Murat Gun from Emirates Leisure Retail discusses their vision for Zanzibar's airport, focusing on creating an experience in tune with the island's vibe and local culture. The session concludes...
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AviaDev Africa 25 Panel session: Beyond the Headwinds: Navigating rising costs, finance hurdles and supply chain challenges for African airlines
AviaDev Insight Africa
In this discussion, industry experts explore the critical challenges facing African aviation, including rising costs, supply chain disruptions, and financing hurdles. Topics discussed include the viability of ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) solutions, the importance of transparent and strategic business planning for attracting investments, and the impact of government taxes and tariffs on the industry. The session also touches on practical solutions for managing the supply chain crisis and optimizing fleet management. Your moderator for this session is ACC aviation and...
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AviaDev Africa 25 Panel Session "AI: Friend or Foe?"
AviaDev Insight Africa
This session was recorded on Thursday, 12th June, at the AviaDev Africa event in Zanzibar. The panel discusses the integration of AI in various facets of the aviation industry, such as customer service, operational planning, revenue management, and fraud detection in payments. Topics addressed include the benefits of AI, such as predictive maintenance, personalized customer experiences, and cost reductions, as well as challenges like AI hallucinations, regulatory compliance, and the need for human oversight. Your moderator for this session is , and she was joined by , Network...
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AviaDev Africa 25 Panel session: Sweating the assets: Maximising efficiency in airline network planning
AviaDev Insight Africa
This session was recorded on Friday, 13th June at the AviaDev Africa event in Zanzibar. The discussion delves into various challenges and strategies for domestic and regional route development, including market stimulation, aircraft utilization, regulatory constraints, and the importance of balance between yield and volume. Key takeaways emphasize the intricacies of route planning, the importance of domestic market dominance, and the impact of external factors such as slot availability and geopolitical issues on airline operations Your moderator for this session is , African aviation...
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Celebrating Excellence. Mesfin Tasew Bekele, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines receives the Ato Girma Wake Lifetime Achievement Award
AviaDev Insight Africa
This session was recorded on Friday, 13th June at the AviaDev Africa event in Zanzibar. Ato Mesfin Tasew Bekele, the Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, shares his remarkable journey from an engineering trainee to leading Africa's largest airline. Mesfin discusses his extensive experience in various roles within Ethiopian Airlines, the unique management culture of the airline, the significant strides in human resource development, and future infrastructure projects. The episode features João Po Jorge, Former CEO of LAM Mozambique Airlines and a 2024 award recipient, plus Ato Girma Wake,...
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Aviation Financing in Africa: How African Airlines Are Transforming Fleet Financing with Tristan Brouard, ACC Aviation
AviaDev Insight Africa
Access to finance is a perennial challenge for many African and Global airlines and it starts with identifying the right solution for your business model. For this episode, I am joined by Tristan Brouard, Vice President of Asset Management at ACC Aviation, a global leader in aircraft leasing that offers transaction and consultancy services. Tristan will be hosting a panel at AviaDev in Zanzibar and in the build up, we have created an insightful blog post that supports this podcast. We discuss: The current environment for aircraft financing in Africa? The different...
info_outlineIn this episode, I sit down with Kwame Bekoe, Co-Founder and CEO of AfriSAF, https://afrisaf.com/
After 20 years working in the aviation industry for companies such as Airbus, GECAS, Zero and now proudly owning an MBA, Entrepreneur Kwame Bekoe is embarking on his biggest mission yet- to unlock Africa's sustainable energy potential.
In the episode, we discuss Kwame's passion for agriculture and Africa, why he feels a biomass-driven SAF solution is what the world needs now, and the input and enthusiasm of African airlines and investors.