Lomé is set to become the epicenter of African aviation transformation from June 15 to 19, 2026, when it hosts the African Air Transport Convention and Exhibition. This landmark event, endorsed by the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), will bring together key stakeholders to chart the future of air travel across the continent.
The conference, organized in collaboration with the African Union Commission and under the distinguished patronage of Togolese President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, aims to fast-track the implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) while deepening continental aviation integration. More than 500 delegates are expected, including government representatives, industry regulators, airline executives, airport managers, investors, development institutions, and international partners.
Lerato Dorothy Mataboge, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy at the African Union, Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and Nardos Bekele-Thomas, CEO of the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD, are among the high-profile attendees confirmed so far.
The event will also feature representatives from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Airports Council International Africa (ACI Africa), and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), alongside officials from the Togolese government and AFCAC.
The five-day program will focus on critical themes: market integration, cargo and air corridor development, investment and infrastructure, technological innovation, and partnership strengthening. Discussions will explore ways to enhance intra-African connectivity, lower air travel costs, fund critical infrastructure, accelerate digital transformation, and promote sustainable aviation fuels—aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the AfCFTA objectives.
Organizers anticipate tangible outcomes, including the adoption of the Lomé Ministerial Declaration, the launch of the African Route Development Platform (ARDP), and the establishment of new cooperation and investment frameworks to foster a more competitive and unified African air transport market.
