Africa’s aviation sector remains a critical enabler of regional integration, trade, tourism, and economic competitiveness. However, African airlines continue to face structural challenges, including high operating costs, constrained access to long-term capital, pressure to renew fleets, infrastructure gaps, and evolving sustainability requirements. Against this backdrop, the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) are staging the Airlines Awareness Workshop on Capital & Connectivity in Nairobi, Kenya, on 25-26 February 2026, in an in-person format.
This two-day workshop is being convened as a dissemination and stakeholder engagement event under the African Development Bank’s Integrated Aviation Transformation Program (IATP), a continent-wide initiative designed to modernize Africa’s aviation ecosystem and unlock sustainable, scalable financing solutions for airlines and aviation infrastructure. The workshop is designed to move beyond high-level dialogue and focus on practical, bankable solutions that directly address airline realities.
Who should attend?
AFRAA and AfDB are pleased to invite your airline to nominate one to two senior representatives, preferably at CEO, CFO, COO, Strategy, Finance, or Fleet Planning level, who are directly involved in decision-making related to financing, fleet, operations, or strategic development. Participation will offer a unique opportunity for your airline to:
- Engage directly with capital providers and development
- Shape the design and implementation of the IATP and its financing
- Contribute to identifying priority pilot transactions relevant to African
- Strengthen collaboration across the African aviation ecosystem in support of SAATM, AfCFTA, and regional connectivity objectives.
Event Agenda and Subject-Matter Experts
Please find attached a more detailed agenda for the event.
The Forum will bring together airline executives, aircraft lessors, OEMs, banks, development finance institutions, export credit agencies, airport operators, and regulators for structured engagement around key themes, including:
- Airline economics, fleet strategy, and bankability
- Aircraft financing and leasing solutions for African carriers
- Cargo, logistics, and trade corridor development
- Airport, airspace, MRO, and skills infrastructure
- Sustainability, SAF, and climate-aligned aviation
- Translation of the IATP architecture into pilot transactions involving African airlines
Registration and Hotel Accommodation
Register your airline’s participation via the link: https://forms.gle/mqyyNR5XNQBQ9joZ9
Further logistical details on hotel accommodation, airport transfers and ground transportation will be shared in due course.
We would be grateful if you could confirm your airline’s nominated representatives by 10th February 2026.
AFRAA and the African Development Bank look forward to your airline’s participation in this important initiative, which aims to translate strategy into action and deliver tangible outcomes for African aviation.
We look forward to welcoming your representatives in Nairobi.