Leading aviation stakeholders from across the continent attended the two-day event (15th-16th October) at the Safari Hotel and Casino in Nairobi for successful business networking and insightful knowledge-sharing on the state of the African aviation sector.
Africa comprises 18.3% world population but only 2.1% of global aviation market, with massive opportunities for growth ahead.
It is predicted Africa's passenger traffic will double by 2040, amounting to over 300 million passengers.
The African Airlines Association (AFRAA) delivered a keynote speech on the first day on the latest developments with the Single African Air Transport Market Agreement (SAATM), a flagship project of the African Union Agenda 2063.
Despite 37 member state signatories now in place, effective implementation of SAATM remains key to advancing the liberalisation of the civil aviation market and enabling the socio-economic uplift for millions of Africans.
"African aviation leaders have spoken with one voice here in Nairobi of their desire to break down the barriers to a single African sky. GHI is determined to work with key stakeholders to bring that message to policy makers across the region. We invite all governments who genuinely want to harness aviation's vast economic growth potential to join GHI Africa in Cape Town next year. It is time to walk the talk," said GHI Chairman Max Gosney.
Cost pressures and margin squeezes on handlers in Africa were other points of discussion as was attracting Gen Z to the airport and developing future leaders, and the rise of e-commerce.
There were around 140 delegates in attendance at this year's event including global GSE manufacturers exhibiting their latest solutions to handlers and airlines.
Eamonn Maguire, Commercial Director from Adapt GSE said it was his second GHI Africa event, saying: "I very much enjoyed it. This is my second in a row attendance at GHI Africa. I learned last year at Cape Town this was a very good conference. Over the past two days, I had 13 or 14 quality meetings, which is very much strengthening and building on what I did last year, and in Cape Town when it comes back next year."
Dr Raghunandan Jagdish, Managing Director and CEO at Nandan GSE added: "I think the African conference is a great place because Africa is a large continent. If you need to visit so many customers at various places, it will involve a lot of logistic travel, etc. but to get all of them together in one place is a good idea. Over the last two conferences I've been at, we've had great meetings and a great time meeting people, and we even had an experience where at the previous GHI Africa last year where we met a prospect, and then later on, we continued the conversation on email and phone, and finally, we got the order for an ambulift, and before this conference this year, we already delivered it."
