Good morning, it’s Monday, 19 October. Welcome to Aviation Africa Weekly, your roundup of the African and global aviation news shaping airlines, airports, policy and connectivity.
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The Week in 60 Seconds
China Southern begins Ethiopian services: The airline launched twice-weekly Guangzhou–Changsha–Addis Ababa flights on 12 October, adding another connection between China and East Africa.
Cameroon approves its winter schedules: Twenty-one scheduled airlines will serve the country during the 2026/27 winter season, with changes to regional and international frequencies.
TAAG maintains operations during strike: The Angolan airline says it operated 186 of 188 scheduled flights during five days of industrial action by aircraft maintenance technicians.
Rwanda and China strengthen aviation cooperation: The two countries' aviation regulators signed an agreement covering aircraft airworthiness certification and technical oversight.
Uganda Airlines appoints its first female captain: Rita Nasirumbi has been promoted to captain after serving as a first officer since the airline's revival in 2019.
One Big Headline
China Southern launches Addis Ababa flights
China Southern Airlines launched flights between Guangzhou and Addis Ababa via Changsha on 12 October.
The inaugural flight carried 251 passengers. The service operates twice weekly, on Mondays and Fridays, using Boeing 787 aircraft.
China Southern says it is currently the only Chinese airline operating scheduled services to Ethiopia. The new route adds to its existing operations in Kenya.
The airline also reported operating more than 410 Nairobi flights between January and September 2026, up 71.9% from the same period in 2025. Passenger traffic on those services reached approximately 114,500, up 58.3%.
The Addis Ababa route provides additional passenger and cargo capacity between China and East Africa.
China Southern says passengers arriving in Addis Ababa can connect to 11 major African cities within seven hours, strengthening the airport's position as a connecting hub.
People Opening Africa’s Skies
Meet Abdérahmane Berthé, Secretary-General of AFRAA
Abdérahmane Berthé has served as Secretary-General of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) since January 2018.
A former chief executive of Air Mali and Air Burkina, Berthé represents African airlines and advocates for lower operating costs, improved efficiency and greater liberalisation of air transport.
AFRAA's work extends beyond policy advocacy.
Its Joint Fuel Procurement Programme brings together 15 African airlines, combining approximately 2.1 billion litres of annual fuel demand across around 190 locations.
By negotiating collectively, participating airlines can secure more competitive fuel terms while maintaining individual contracts with suppliers.
AFRAA is also promoting Free Route Airspace, which lets aircraft follow more efficient flight paths, reducing flight time and fuel consumption.
Under Berthé's leadership, the association continues to call for lower aviation taxes and charges, the release of blocked airline funds and implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM).
Across Africa
TAAG operates 98% of scheduled flights during strike
TAAG Angola Airlines says it operated 186 of 188 scheduled flights during the aircraft maintenance technicians' strike from 11 to 15 October.
The airline reported an execution rate above 98% and average on-time performance of 84%.
TAAG activated an operational continuity plan to limit disruptions. Negotiations with the technicians' union remain unresolved, with further strike periods previously announced for November and December.
Cameroon approves winter schedules for 21 airlines
The Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority approved the country's 2026/27 winter flight schedules following a coordination meeting on 8 October.
The regulator expects 21 scheduled airlines to operate services, with four additional weekly frequencies compared with the summer season.
Nigerian carrier Enugu Air is expected to introduce two weekly flights, while Air Peace plans three additional weekly frequencies.
Royal Airways Chad and EgyptAir will each increase from three to four weekly flights.
Turkish Airlines will reduce its services from seven to five weekly flights, while Air Algérie will operate three weekly flights without its previous stopovers in Abuja and N'Djamena.
Rwanda and China sign airworthiness agreement
The Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority and the Civil Aviation Administration of China signed a memorandum of understanding in Kigali on 12 October.
The agreement covers cooperation on aircraft airworthiness certification, technical oversight and the acceptance of aeronautical products and approvals.
The two regulators will develop an implementation plan for the partnership.
Zimbabwe reopens Harare's domestic terminal
The refurbished domestic terminal at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport reopened to passengers on 12 October.
Air Zimbabwe confirmed that domestic check-in services had moved back to the domestic departures terminal after operating from the international terminal during renovations.
The reopening forms part of the airport's wider infrastructure improvement programme.
Kenya considers new air-service agreements
Kenyan aviation stakeholders have supported parliamentary consideration of bilateral air-service agreements covering countries in Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas.
Representatives of the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, Kenya Airports Authority, Kenya Airways and other aviation organisations told legislators that updating the agreements could improve market access and support new routes.
Ghana conducts airport emergency simulation
Ghana Airports Company Limited conducted a full-scale emergency simulation at Accra's Kotoka International Airport on 15 October.
The exercise brought together emergency responders, security agencies and aviation institutions to test procedures for handling an aircraft emergency.
The simulation covered communication, medical response, coordination between agencies and passenger assistance.
Zimbabwe publishes sustainable aviation fuel study
The Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe published a business implementation study on the development and deployment of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) on 13 October.
The study is intended to inform the country's approach to SAF production and adoption.
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New Routes & Connectivity
Airline | Route | Change and status | Effective date |
|---|---|---|---|
China Southern | Guangzhou–Changsha–Addis Ababa | Launched, twice weekly | 12 October 2026 |
Finnair | Helsinki–Agadir | Seasonal weekly service scheduled | 14 October 2026 |
Enugu Air | Nigeria–Cameroon | Two weekly flights approved | Winter 2026/27 |
Air Peace | Nigeria–Cameroon services | Three additional weekly frequencies approved | Winter 2026/27 |
Turkish Airlines | Cameroon services | Reduction from seven to five weekly flights approved | Winter 2026/27 |
The Cameroon changes form part of the regulator's approved winter schedule. The exact operating dates and route endpoints of some planned services have not been disclosed.
Numbers of the Week
26.6 million
Scheduled airline seats across Africa in October 2026, an increase of 8.8% compared with October 2025, according to OAG.
4.35 million
Scheduled international seats between African countries in October, compared with 10.4 million seats between Africa and Europe.
54.6%
Growth in Nigeria's domestic scheduled airline capacity for October 2026, reaching approximately 1.03 million seats.
0.8%
The share of global jet fuel consumption expected to come from sustainable aviation fuel in 2026, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Africa’s Airports
Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, Ethiopia
Addis Ababa Bole International Airport is Ethiopia's principal international airport and the main hub of Ethiopian Airlines.
Located in the Bole district of Addis Ababa, approximately six kilometres southeast of the city centre, the airport opened in 1962, replacing the former Lideta airfield as the capital's main airport.
The airport has two parallel runways and two main passenger terminals. Terminal 1 primarily handles domestic and selected regional services, while Terminal 2 serves international operations.
In 2025, Bole handled approximately 11.8 million passenger journeys, alongside more than 182,000 aircraft movements.
Its location and Ethiopian Airlines' extensive network make it one of Africa's most important connecting airports, particularly for passengers travelling between African countries and onward to Europe, Asia and the Americas.
Bole is also home to Ethiopian Aviation University, which provides training for pilots, engineers, cabin crew and other aviation professionals.
The university, formerly Ethiopian Aviation Academy, was upgraded to university status in 2023 and is part of Ethiopian Airlines Group.
The airport is expected to play an important role alongside Ethiopia's planned Bishoftu International Airport, which is being developed to accommodate future traffic growth.
Airport information from Ethiopian Airlines · Ethiopian Aviation University · ICAO training centre profile
Airlines Connecting Africa
FlySafair, South Africa
FlySafair B737-844 ZS-SJR
FlySafair began scheduled passenger operations on 16 October 2014 with a flight between Cape Town and Johannesburg.
The airline launched with two aircraft and has since become one of South Africa's largest domestic carriers, operating a fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft.
In its tenth-anniversary report in 2024, FlySafair said it had carried more than 41.6 million passengers across over 260,000 flights since launch.
Its network has expanded beyond South Africa to destinations including Harare, Victoria Falls, Windhoek, Mauritius and Zanzibar. The airline has also announced services between Johannesburg and Lusaka.
FlySafair is led by Chief Executive Officer Elmar Conradie.
According to OAG, the airline has approximately 1.02 million scheduled seats in October 2026, making it Africa's second-largest airline by that measure, behind Ethiopian Airlines.
Capacity is down 1.8% compared with October 2025.
FlySafair also recorded a 91.06% on-time arrival rate in Cirium's 2025 review, ranking first among airlines in the Middle East and Africa region.
Beyond Africa
Lufthansa selected to acquire stake in TAP Air Portugal
Portugal selected Lufthansa Group to acquire up to 49.9% of TAP Air Portugal in a transaction valued at approximately €1.2 billion.
The decision, reported on 14 October, follows a competitive process involving Lufthansa and Air France-KLM.
TAP's network includes important connections between Portugal and Portuguese-speaking African countries, including Angola, Mozambique and Cabo Verde.
Boeing 737 MAX 10 moves closer to certification
The US Federal Aviation Administration has completed a key safety review of Boeing's 737 MAX 10.
Certification could follow after the remaining regulatory steps are completed.
The aircraft has faced repeated delays since its planned introduction. Boeing has accumulated nearly 1,500 orders for the model.
Airbus considers increasing A350 production
Airbus is considering increasing production of its A350 widebody aircraft as demand for long-haul jets continues.
Commercial aircraft chief executive Lars Wagner said on 14 October that the manufacturer was moving towards a decision on higher production rates.
Airbus is also studying larger versions of its A350 and A220 aircraft families.
Riyadh airport closure extended after attacks
Saudi authorities extended the closure of King Khalid International Airport following attacks on 10 and 11 October.
The attacks occurred during the previous reporting period. The new development this week was the continued closure and additional airline cancellations announced on 12 October.
The disruption affected international connections through Riyadh, with several airlines suspending services.
IATA study examines corporate demand for sustainable aviation fuel
IATA, Airbus and Accenture released a study on 14 October estimating that corporate purchases could support demand for between 1 million and 1.9 million tonnes of sustainable aviation fuel by 2030.
The study examines how businesses could support SAF costs through environmental attribute certificates linked to business travel and cargo emissions.
People & The Profession
Uganda Airlines appoints first female captain
Uganda Airlines announced Rita Nasirumbi's promotion to captain on 13 October.
Nasirumbi joined the airline in 2019 when it resumed operations and has served as a first officer on its CRJ900 regional aircraft.
Her promotion makes her the first woman to hold the rank of captain at Uganda Airlines.
Airbus forecasts global aviation workforce demand
Airbus estimates that the aviation industry will require approximately 2.44 million additional professionals over the next two decades, including pilots, cabin crew and maintenance personnel.
The forecast, released on 14 October, highlights growing demand for aviation skills worldwide.
Opportunities & The Week Ahead
19 October | AFRAA webinar on Modern Airline Retailing
The African Airlines Association (AFRAA), in partnership with Hitit, will host a webinar on Harnessing the Benefits of IATA's Modern Airline Retailing with Offers & Orders.
The session will examine how African airlines can transition from traditional distribution systems towards Offers & Orders, including the opportunities and challenges for commercial operations, revenue management and digital transformation.
Time: 13:00–14:00 SAST (14:00–15:00 EAT).
26–30 October | Aviation English assessment training, Addis Ababa
Ethiopian Aviation University will host an ICAO English Language Proficiency Interlocutor/Rater Initial Training course.
The five-day programme costs US$2,250 and is intended for qualified aviation professionals involved in language assessment.
Applicants generally require at least three years of relevant experience and ICAO English proficiency at Level 5 or above.
26–30 October | Aerodrome safety training, Nigeria
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria is scheduled to host an ICAO Aerodrome Safety Basic Course in Ikeja.
The listed course fee is US$800.
25 October | Emirates introduces A350 on Nairobi route
Emirates is scheduled to deploy its Airbus A350 on flights EK717 and EK718 between Dubai and Nairobi.
The aircraft will introduce Premium Economy seating on the route.
Editor’s Perspective
Editor's Perspective
Africa's aviation potential is attracting attention. Are we doing enough with it?
China Southern's new service to Addis Ababa is another indication of the opportunities international airlines see in Africa. Across the continent, foreign carriers are opening routes, increasing capacity and investing in markets they believe have room to grow.
Yet much of Africa's aviation potential remains unrealised.
We have spent decades discussing open skies, lower operating costs and better connections between African countries. Progress has been made, but flying within Africa remains expensive and inconvenient for many people. In some cases, reaching another African country still requires a connection outside the continent.
The interest from international airlines should encourage us to look more closely at our own market. There is an opportunity for African airlines, investors and governments to develop a stronger industry that serves Africans first, while connecting the continent to the rest of the world.
Africans must also be able to see air travel as a practical means of transport, not something reserved for a small section of the population.
That will require more affordable fares, reliable services, better domestic and regional connections, and policies that make operating airlines commercially viable.
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Until next time,
AVIATION AFRICA
