The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has unveiled a continent-wide aviation financing platform aimed at transforming Africa’s rapidly growing air travel demand into sustainable connectivity, profitability and long-term economic growth.
The initiative was announced as policymakers, airline executives, and investors gathered in Nairobi for the two-day Airlines, Capital and Connectivity Forum held on 25–26 February 2026. The event was convened by the African Development Bank Group in partnership with the African Airlines Association.
With Africa expected to become the world’s fastest-growing aviation market, industry leaders are focusing on how to convert rising passenger demand into stronger connectivity, improved competitiveness and financial sustainability across the sector.
Despite favourable growth prospects, Africa’s aviation industry continues to face structural challenges, including high financing costs, fragmented regulations, infrastructure gaps and limited access to long-term investment capital.
To tackle these constraints, the Bank is advancing the Integrated Aviation Transformation Programme, a continent-wide platform designed to modernise Africa’s aviation ecosystem while mobilising private, institutional and concessional financing at scale. The programme aims to align policy reform, innovative financing mechanisms and project implementation within a single investment framework.
The Nairobi forum brought together airline executives, transport ministers, regulators, investors, aircraft manufacturers and development partners to examine how the programme can accelerate coordinated progress across the aviation industry. Participants highlighted aviation’s role as a key driver of regional integration, trade, tourism and economic diversification.
Opening the forum, the Bank’s Director for Infrastructure and Urban Development, Mike Salawou, said that although Africa’s aviation demand outlook is among the strongest globally, the continent continues to face investment and capacity gaps.
He explained that the programme is intended to reduce investment risks, support pilot transactions and rebuild confidence among commercial and institutional investors in Africa’s aviation sector.
From the industry’s perspective, African Airlines Association Secretary General Abderahmane Berthé pointed to the disparity between Africa’s population and its share of global air traffic.
“Africa represents nearly 18 percent of the global population but accounts for less than three percent of worldwide air traffic, reflecting structural and regulatory barriers rather than weak demand,” he said.
Remarks delivered on behalf of Kenya Airways described Africa as the largest structural aviation opportunity of the 21st century. Over the next two decades, one in four new global air travellers is expected to originate from Africa, driven by rapid urbanisation, a growing middle-income population and a youthful demographic profile.
However, the financial performance of African airlines remains under pressure. According to the International Air Transport Association, carriers on the continent are expected to record net margins of between one and two per cent, below the projected global average of 3.9 per cent in 2026. High fuel prices, heavy taxation, incomplete liberalisation and limited hub infrastructure continue to affect profitability.
Connectivity within Africa also remains a major challenge. Intra-African travel accounts for only about a quarter of total air traffic, with many passengers still forced to transit through airports outside the continent. Participants stressed that full implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market would be essential to unlock efficient air connectivity within Africa.
A keynote address delivered by Eric Ntagengerwa, Head of Transport and Mobility at the African Union Commission, on behalf of Lerato Dorothy Mataboge, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, highlighted aviation reform as a strategic priority for sovereignty, regional integration and competitiveness. He noted that the Single African Air Transport Market has been designated the African Union Theme for the Year 2027.
Over the two-day forum, discussions focused on practical solutions to strengthen the sector. These included improving airline bankability, advancing climate-aligned aviation initiatives, expanding cargo and logistics networks, developing aviation skills and deploying innovative risk-sharing mechanisms under the Integrated Aviation Transformation Programme.
Country experiences from Nigeria, Kenya and Ethiopia were also presented, demonstrating how continental aviation objectives can translate into coordinated national reforms and near-term investment opportunities.
Samuel Obafemi Bajomo, Senior Adviser to Nigeria’s aviation ministry, said pro-investment policy frameworks would be essential to improving connectivity and unlocking the continent’s growth potential.
He emphasised that stronger aviation systems could act as a catalyst for trade, tourism and broader economic prosperity across Africa.
The forum concluded with a clear message from participants: Africa’s aviation demand is growing rapidly and cannot be ignored. The priority now is execution, with stakeholders urged to align policy, capital and infrastructure to ensure aviation becomes a lasting driver of inclusive growth and regional integration across the continent.
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