384. Fastjet Zimbabwe's 10-year playbook: discipline, fleet simplicity, and the next stage of growth
AviaDev Insight Africa
Fastjet Zimbabwe Business CEO and Country Head Donahue Cortes joins Host Jon Howell to reflect on more than a decade of airline operations in a volatile market. They discuss how Fastjet Zimbabwe built resilience, why the Embraer 145 became a strategic strength, what the Airbus A320 trial means for the airline’s future, and how new partnerships could reshape regional connectivity across Southern Africa. The conversation also explores business class demand, route development, aviation liberalization, and Donahue’s view of leadership as stewardship. CHAPTERS 00:00 - Welcome and...
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383. September 2026's AviaDev Connectivity Update with Sean Mendis and Behramjee Ghadially
AviaDev Insight Africa
In this episode of the AviaDev Insight Africa Connectivity Podcast, Jon Howell is joined by Sean Mendis and Behramjee for a fast-moving roundup of the biggest aviation stories across Africa and beyond. If you want a sharp, informed take on African aviation strategy, network planning, and the commercial realities behind the headlines, this episode is packed with insight. Subscribe for monthly AviaDev connectivity updates and analysis. Chapters: 00:00 Intro and episode overview 03:18 Airlink flypast in Cape Town 16:09 Airlink's new domestic route, Qatar codeshare, and E2...
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382. July/ August's AviaDev Connectivity Update with Sean Mendis and Behramjee Ghadially
AviaDev Insight Africa
Join host Jon Howell, Founder and CEO of AviaDev Africa, joined by Regular Guests and Aviation Consultants, Sean Mendis and Behramjee Ghadially as they dive into the latest developments in African aviation. Chapters: 00:00 Intro and live welcome 03:49 Uganda Airlines Boeing order and delivery timeline 07:56 Ethiopian Airlines ready to choose its regional jet? Could it be the Max 7? 17:51 Etihad’s Africa partnership signing tour with Africa World Airlines, fastjet and Air Peace and broader interline strategy 26:24 AWA’s Abidjan launch and market dynamics 36:57 Emirates cuts new Ghana...
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381. June's AviaDev Connectivity Update with Sean Mendis and Behramjee Ghadially
AviaDev Insight Africa
Join host Jon Howell, Founder and CEO of AviaDev Africa, joined by Regular Guests and Aviation Consultants, Sean Mendis and Behramjee Ghadially as they dive into the latest developments in African aviation. Sign up to the mailing list https://www.aviadev.com/keep-me-updated TOPICS: 0:00 Introduction and welcome 3:27 Uganda Airlines’ Mega Boeing order and fleet rebuild 15:42 London Gatwick to Harare to finally be served? Air Zimbabwe looking to deploy a wet leased aircraft, but when? 28:05 TUI’s new Gatwick–Zanzibar route for Winter 2027. 40:17 Emirates to add four additional weekly...
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380. Washington Dulles International Airport. The natural gateway between Africa and the United States?
AviaDev Insight Africa
This episode explores how Washington Dulles International Airport is positioning itself as a key gateway between Africa and the United States. Featuring insights from Ariana McKnire, Director of Airline Business Development, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, the discussion covers route development, market opportunities, and the strategic importance of Washington's demographic and geographic advantages in African aviation connectivity. CHAPTERS 00:00 - Introduction to Washington Dulles as a US-African gateway 01:38 - Demographics and market size in Washington DC 05:09 - Business...
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379. From Runways to Real Estate: Unlocking Airport Investment Opportunities in Africa with NACO (Netherlands Airport Consultants)
AviaDev Insight Africa
In this episode of the AviaDev Insight Africa podcast, we delve into the strategies African airports can adopt to enhance non-aeronautical revenues and attract investment. Save the below infographic for more insights and join us at AviaDev in Botswana for further discussions. Hosted by Jon Howell, this episode features insights from Nelly Alandou, Jody Appollis, and Adam Ekman Pedersen of the NACO team. Discover how African airports can diversify revenue streams and become economic hubs. Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction 01:21 - Meet the NACO Team 02:42 - Revenue Stream diversification 04:17 -...
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378. The May 2026 AviaDev Insight Africa Connectivity Update with Sean Mendis and Behramjee Ghadially
AviaDev Insight Africa
Welcome to the May 2026 AviaDev Connectivity Update! Join host Jon Howell, Founder and CEO of AviaDev Africa, joined by Regular Guests and Aviation Consultants, Sean Mendis and Behramjee Ghadially as they dive into the latest developments in African aviation. TOPICS: 00:00 - Introduction and Overview 01:28 - Virgin Atlantic doubles down on South Africa 04:16 - KLM quietly grows Cape Town capacity 08:43 - South African Airways: new CEO, fresh cuts 16:56 - Airlink launches Cape Town–Zanzibar nonstop 25:27 - Turkish Airlines slashes African routes 35:43 - Qatar Airways' Return to...
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377. AviaDev's Connectivity update for April 2026. Etihad's 6 new Africa routes and key airline moves
AviaDev Insight Africa
In the 30th edition of the AviaDev Africa Connectivity Update, host Jon Howell is joined by usual guests, Aviation Consultants Sean Mendis and Behramjee Ghadially to review the biggest stories impacting African aviation 00:00 Welcome 02:33 Africa Market Pulse and impacts of the Iran War 13:12 Etihad's 6 new routes for Africa. Behramjee's take 24:22 Sean's take on Etihad's expansion 42:48 Uganda Airlines fleet and route update 46:28 SalamAir's new routes to Kigali and Mogadishu 52:16 ASKY Hints at a new Route 01:00:01 Turkish Airlines Boosts Mauritius frequencies 01:04:30 Ethiopian Eyes...
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376. Air Ghana: Exploring new horizons with Jonathan Appiah, Head of Corporate Affairs
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...
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375. Gateway to Opportunities: Botswana's connectivity ambitions with Capt. Thuto Toise, CEO, Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana (CAAB)
AviaDev Insight Africa
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,...
info_outlineThis 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 Route of the Year
✈ Most Sensible Commercial Decision of the Year by an African airline
Expect strong opinions, healthy debate, and possibly a few raised eyebrows!
A reminder that the views expressed are those of my guests and not necessarily those of AviaDev.