341. Introducing FlySafair's latest innovation, Lindi, and talking all things fleet and network with Kirby Gordon, Chief Marketing Officer
Release Date: 07/08/2025
364. From Accra to the World. Outlining Africa World Airlines' Fleet and Route Growth with Sohail Mahmood, Chief Operating Officer
AviaDev Insight Africa
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...
info_outline
363. January's AviaDev Africa Connectivity update and 2025 Awards announcements
AviaDev Insight Africa
This session was live-streamed on 26th January 2026. To stay up to date with all things AviaDev, sign up at 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...
info_outline
362. Cape Town's Hub Potential : Insights from Katherine Nicholls, MSc Air Transport Management Graduate
AviaDev Insight Africa
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.
info_outline
361. AviaDev Insight Africa Awards 2025
AviaDev Insight Africa
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...
info_outline
360. AviaDev's December 2025 Africa Connectivity Update with Sean Mendis and Behramjee Ghadially
AviaDev Insight Africa
*Subscribe to our mailing list to never miss another episode and stay up to date with event news: 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...
info_outline
359. Fortifying African Airlines: Pathways to Financial Health with Raphael Haddad, President, Jetcraft Commercial
AviaDev Insight Africa
Subscribe to our mailing list to never miss another episode and stay up to date with event news: 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...
info_outline
358. Is AFCAC delivering on its bold aviation ambitions? A conversation with Adefunke Adeyemi, Secretary General
AviaDev Insight Africa
Subscribe to our mailing list to never miss another episode and stay up to date with event news: 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?...
info_outline
357. From Vision to Reality: The Cape Winelands Airport Journey with Mark Wilkinson, Director
AviaDev Insight Africa
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...
info_outline
356. AviaDev's November 2025 Africa Connectivity Update with Sean Mendis and Behramjee Ghadially
AviaDev Insight Africa
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...
info_outline
355. Bridging the gap. Reflections on the ICAO NGAP event with 3 AviaDev Ambassadors
AviaDev Insight Africa
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...
info_outlineIn this episode of Aviadev Insight Africa, I spoke with Kirby Gordon, Chief Marketing Officer of FlySafair, about the airline's innovative use of AI, particularly their new AI agent named Lindi.
Together, we discuss the implications of AI in customer service, the incentives for customers to use Lindi, and the feedback received since its launch.
The conversation also features a deep dive into the fleet standardisation challenges and the airline's regional expansion plans.