363. January's AviaDev Africa Connectivity update and 2025 Awards announcements
Release Date: 01/26/2026
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,...
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374. Focus Africa: IATA's Kamil Al-Awadhi's vision for a brighter aviation future
AviaDev Insight Africa
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...
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373. AviaDev's March 2026 Connectivity Update with Behramjee Ghadially and Sean Mendis
AviaDev Insight 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...
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372. From Reputation to Revenue: Building a strong airline brand with Rahsaan Johnson, brand expert
AviaDev Insight Africa
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...
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371. Live stage session at BARSA: Leadership Dialogue: Reframing Africa’s Aviation Narrative with Prof. Bonang Mohale & Hamish Erskine, CEO, Dube Trade Port
AviaDev Insight Africa
This a special podcast episode recorded on 6th March 2026 as part of the Board of Airline Representatives of South Africa Annual Conference. In the episode, Professor Mohale argues Africa’s economic and aviation story is often told by outsiders, calling for Africans to own the narrative and emphasizing leadership defined by vision, courage, and integrity. The discussion contrasts management and leadership, critiques reliance on bureaucracy as a refuge from accountability, and highlights how colonial-era boundaries and continued dependence undermine African prosperity and unity. Erskine...
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370. ValueJet. Innovating to stay ahead by creating Viki - Their AI concierge powered by Kiu
AviaDev Insight Africa
In this episode, we explore the innovative journey of ValueJet, a Nigerian airline that has recently introduced Viki, the first AI concierge in Africa. Temi Adjijola, the head of business program and IT at Value Jet, discusses the airline's mission to make flying accessible to more people in Nigeria, where air travel is still underutilized. Joining Temi is Rodger Whittle, Commercial Director and Juan Felipe Restrepo, Chief Product Officer at KIU System Solutions who created Viki and provide over 70 airlines worldwide with a comprehensive, cloud-based, AI-powered suite of IT services for...
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369. AviaDev's February 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. Clarification on the FlySafair sale Uganda Airlines - management changes, fleet changes, route changes Kenya Airways next steps. Can they secure an investor/ partner? - both Singapore and Qatar have denied interest Ethiopian update (adding a 4th daily Dubai, second daily Bamako - Dakar, cutting Nacala) Air Congo regional expansion - speculation on Europe? Eswatini Air to add Lusaka to their Harare service QR...
info_outlineThis session was live-streamed on 26th January 2026.
To stay up to date with all things AviaDev, sign up at https://www.aviadev.com/keep-me-updated
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 at ordering 30 E175-E2s to replace E135/140 fleet.
SAA-Cemair codeshare agreement
Kenya Airways 777-300ER returns on LHR from June
Uganda Airlines A330 issues
Air Tanzania finally launching Accra 28JAN26?
Air Côte d’Ivoire longhaul schedule updates
WRAPUP
- Air Zimbabwe’s US$775m turnaround and fleet replacement plan
- Delta’s 787-10 order and implications for Africa
- Enugu Air’s E195 expansion and virtual airline model
- Oman Air to Kigali?
- FlyNAS launching Abha to Addis Ababa 2x weekly
- Air Algerie 2x weekly ALG-NDJ-ADD starting March 2026