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Since its creation in 2018, AviaDev Insight Africa has established itself as the premier podcast dedicated to African Aviation.
We bring prominent industry voices to the table to establish the "ground truth" informally and candidly.
The podcast was created by Jon Howell, Founder and CEO of AviaDev Africa, Africa's premier event dedicated to developing air connectivity to, from, and within the African continent
We bring prominent industry voices to the table to establish the "ground truth" informally and candidly.
The podcast was created by Jon Howell, Founder and CEO of AviaDev Africa, Africa's premier event dedicated to developing air connectivity to, from, and within the African continent
372 Episodes
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In this episode of AviaDev Insight Africa, we speak to Rahsaan Johnson, former Managing Director of Global Communications at Delta, with 13 years at United, about what "brand" means for airlines and why it drives profitability and resilience. Johnson defines brand as the emotions and adjectives customers associate with an airline, shaped by reputation and lived experience, and argues the foundation of a strong airline brand is "clean, safe, reliable." He explains how a strong brand increases the willingness to pay among schedule-sensitive travelers, and why African airlines should build brands even on monopoly routes, because competition often arrives with liberalization. 00:00 Welcome and Setup 00:47 Meet Rahsaan Johnson 01:44 What Brand Means 04:18 Building Strong Brands 06:43 Brand Drives Revenue 09:54 Why Brand Matters Africa 14:43 Common Brand Mistakes 16:01 Boarding Friction Story 19:48 Stress Before Takeoff 20:18 Customer First Decisions 21:05 Gate Anxiety Explained 22:18 United App Reduces Stress 25:43 Feedback and NPS Surveys 27:26 Modern Digital Expectations 29:08 Values and Emotional Connection 30:44 Positioning for Everyone 32:42 Sponsorships Without Polarizing 34:26 Segmenting Products Profitably 37:02 Setting Expectations Over Time 38:42 Wrap Up and Farewell CONNECT WITH RAHSAAN
This a special podcast episode recorded on 6th March 2026 as part of the Board of Airline Representatives of South Africa Annual Conference. In the episode, Professor Mohale argues Africa's economic and aviation story is often told by outsiders, calling for Africans to own the narrative and emphasizing leadership defined by vision, courage, and integrity. The discussion contrasts management and leadership, critiques reliance on bureaucracy as a refuge from accountability, and highlights how colonial-era boundaries and continued dependence undermine African prosperity and unity. Erskine frames bureaucracy as a tool of power that can stifle agility, urges regional and continental integration, as evidence of benefits from opening skies and trade. 00:00 Welcome and Setup 00:29 Meet the Guests 02:39 Live Session Begins 04:48 Who Tells Africas Story? 09:47 Leadership Gap and Reset 14:52 Leadership vs Management 21:13 Bureaucracy and Ownership 25:13 Open Skies Proof Points 27:28 Integration Beyond Borders 33:02 Regional Integration Lessons 36:20 Closing Takeaways
In this episode, we explore the innovative journey of ValueJet, a Nigerian airline that has recently introduced Viki, the first AI concierge in Africa. Temi Adjijola, the head of business program and IT at Value Jet, discusses the airline's mission to make flying accessible to more people in Nigeria, where air travel is still underutilized. Joining Temi is Rodger Whittle, Commercial Director and Juan Felipe Restrepo, Chief Product Officer at KIU System Solutions who created Viki and provide over 70 airlines worldwide with a comprehensive, cloud-based, AI-powered suite of IT services for airlines, focusing on Passenger Service Systems (PSS), Departure Control Systems (DCS), and a proprietary Global Distribution System (GDS). The conversation delves into the challenges faced by the airline industry in Nigeria, the adoption of technology to enhance customer experience, and the significant role of AI in streamlining operations and improving service delivery. The guests also share insights on the future of AI in aviation, including potential applications in customer service, operational efficiency, and revenue management. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Value Jet and AI Concierge 06:42 Value Jet's Business Model and Market Positioning 12:45 The Role of AI in Enhancing Customer Experience 20:22 Industry Feedback and Adoption of AI Solutions 28:06 Future Applications of AI in Aviation 38:53 Expansion Plans and Strategic Growth for Value Jet CONNECT WITH RODGER CONNECT WITH JUAN CONNECT WITH TEMI
*Subscribe to our mailing list to never miss another episode and stay up to date with event news: https://www.aviadev.com/keep-me-updated In this episode, we cover the latest route and fleet developments in African aviation. Clarification on the FlySafair sale Uganda Airlines - management changes, fleet changes, route changes Kenya Airways next steps. Can they secure an investor/ partner? - both Singapore and Qatar have denied interest Ethiopian update (adding a 4th daily Dubai, second daily Bamako - Dakar, cutting Nacala) Air Congo regional expansion - speculation on Europe? Eswatini Air to add Lusaka to their Harare service QR cutting KGL frequencies United Nigeria Airlines - update on fleet and potential routes Air India orders A321XLRs - Africa bound? Connect with Behramjee Connect with Sean
In this episode, Host Jon Howell sits down with Theo Wensink, Head of Airline Marketing, Middle East and Africa at Embraer to discuss the "Connecting Africa" report which premiered at AviaDev Africa 2025. Providing commentary and insight into the findings are regular podcast contributors, aviation consultants Sean Mendis and Behramjee Ghadially. Together, they explore why the report was created, the methodology, and then we count down the top unserved routes from 10 to 1, identifying which have the best chance of being served and by whom. Download the report here CONNECT WITH THEO CONNECT WITH SEAN CONNECT WITH BEHRAMJEE Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Connecting Africa Report 01:23 Embraer's Footprint in Africa 08:44 Methodology Behind the Report 13:21 Countdown of Top 10 Routes: Brazzaville to Dakar 23:02 Countdown of Top 10 Routes: Douala to Dakar 28:55 Countdown of Top 10 Routes: Cape Town to Dar es Salaam 36:44 Countdown of Top 10 Routes: Abuja to Nairobi 44:00 Connecting Africa: The Abuja to Nairobi Route 44:24 Bamako to Brazzaville: Humanitarian and Diplomatic Links 53:10 Cotonou to Dakar: Trade and Student Travel 59:00 Cape Town to Lagos: Business and Leisure Dynamics 01:05:54 Dakar to Libreville: Oil and Banking Connections 01:10:46 Lusaka to Cape Town: Mining and Tourism Opportunities 01:20:37 Abidjan to Douala: The Unserved Route Potential
In this episode of AviaDev Insight Africa, host Jon Howell speaks with Chidozie Uzoezie, founder of the African Aviation Group (AAG), about the impact of the group on aspiring aviators in Africa. They discuss the challenges and opportunities in the African aviation industry, the launch of Mentortude, an all-inclusive mentorship platform, and the upcoming Fireside Chat event aimed at empowering the next generation of aviation professionals. Find out more: https://www.mentortude.com/ Chidozie emphasizes the importance of mentorship, community, and access to information in shaping the future of aviation in Africa. 00:00 Introduction to African Aviation and Chidozie Uzoezie 03:09 The Impact of the African Aviation Group 06:07 Optimism for the Future of African Aviation 08:52 Introducing Mentitude: A New Mentorship Initiative 11:56 The Upcoming Fireside Chat Event 14:41 Closing Thoughts and Future Aspirations
In this episode of AviaDev Insight Africa, Jon Howell speaks with aviation consultant Miretab Tesfaye about the ambitious Bishoftu Airport project in Ethiopia. They discuss the airport's projected capacity, the strategic advantages and opportunities for Ethiopian Airlines, and the challenges it faces in a competitive Global aviation market. CONNECT WITH MIRETAB Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Bishoftu Airport Project 05:03 Miretab's Journey and Experience 09:25 Overview of Bishoftu Airport Details 16:17 Ethiopian Airlines' Competitive Advantage 22:58 Challenges and Opportunities for Ethiopian Airlines 29:51 Future of Bishoftu Airport and Its Impact
In this episode, we speak with George Mothema, CEO of the Board of Airline Representatives of South Africa (BARSA), to review the state of South African aviation in 2026 and preview the upcoming BARSA conference in KwaZulu-Natal. George highlights positive market developments including shareholding changes at Safair, Qatar's 25% stake in Airlink, and SAA adding new routes as it rebuilds. Key challenges discussed include ATNS's past neglect of instrument and flight procedure redesigns that led to suspended procedures and losses for airlines serving secondary airports, aging CNS equipment requiring manual workarounds, delayed airport maintenance by ACSA with noted improvements at OR Tambo, and border management bottlenecks such as long passport-control queues and delays implementing e-gates due to slow biometric systems and aging platforms. Find out more: https://barsa.co.za/ 00:00 Welcome to AviaDev Insight Africa + Introducing BARSA CEO George Mothema 01:17 South Africa Aviation 2026: The Good News (market shakeups, new investors, SAA routes) 04:21 The Bad News: ATNS flight procedure suspensions & air traffic systems upgrades 06:23 Airport maintenance & border control bottlenecks 08:27 Policy & safety snapshot: civil aviation policy balance 11:39 Regional recovery & why BARSA is heading to KwaZulu-Natal (Durban) 15:43 Conference theme reveal: "Destination Africa" and what it means 16:07 Program deep dive 22:34 Who should attend BARSA 2026 30:48 Wrap-up.
In this episode, the focus is on Africa World Airlines (AWA) and its new Chief Operating Officer, Sohail Mahmood Sohail shares his aviation journey so far and what attracted him to join AWA. We then delve into the foundational strengths of AWA, including its hub and spoke model operating out of Accra, Ghana, and the reasons for its resilience. We then move to fleet and route strategy, where Sohail hints at potential expansion on both fronts in 2026, before wrapping up with a discussion on the strategic importance of partnerships and interline agreements to enhance AWA's route network and market presence.
This session was live-streamed on 26th January 2026. To stay up to date with all things AviaDev, sign up at https://www.aviadev.com/keep-me-updated As always, we are joined by our trusted pair — Behramjee Ghadially and Sean Mendis. Chapters: 2025 AviaDev Award winners announcements Ethiopian Airlines S26 network updates Impact of updated US travel restrictions on Africa demand in 2026 Qatar Airways frequency increases to South Africa TAAG's planned Guangzhou service on 787 Air Sierra Leone Banjul–London Gatwick fastJet cutting LUN-HRE flights Airlink increasing Lilongwe flights and looking at ordering 30 E175-E2s to replace E135/140 fleet. SAA-Cemair codeshare agreement Kenya Airways 777-300ER returns on LHR from June Uganda Airlines A330 issues Air Tanzania finally launching Accra 28JAN26? Air Côte d'Ivoire longhaul schedule updates WRAPUP Air Zimbabwe's US$775m turnaround and fleet replacement plan Delta's 787-10 order and implications for Africa Enugu Air's E195 expansion and virtual airline model Oman Air to Kigali? FlyNAS launching Abha to Addis Ababa 2x weekly Air Algerie 2x weekly ALG-NDJ-ADD starting March 2026
Katherine Nicholls is a South African who recently graduated from the University of Surrey with an MSc in Air Transport Management. Her dissertation focused on the potential for Cape Town to evolve from a destination airport into a major aviation hub. Learn about Katherine's research, which combines network analysis, connectivity data, and broader market factors. Discover the roles of regional and international connectivity, infrastructural challenges, the impact of home-based carriers, and the future of Cape Town's aviation landscape. CONNECT WITH KATHERINE
This is an audio recording of the annual AviaDev Insight Africa Awards, which was also live-streamed via the AviaDev YouTube channel and Jon Howell's personal LinkedIn page. Join our monthly podcast guests, Sean Mendis and Behramjee Ghadially, who have been working independently (no collusion here!) to pick their nominees across these much-debated categories: ✈ New Intercontinental Africa Route of the Year ✈ New Intra-Africa Route of the Year ✈ Best Intercontinental "Expansion" Route of the Year ✈ Worst Route Decision of the Year ✈ Route Suspension of the Year ✈ Surprise Route of the Year ✈ Most Sensible Commercial Decision of the Year by an African airline Expect strong opinions, healthy debate, and possibly a few raised eyebrows! A reminder that the views expressed are those of my guests and not necessarily those of AviaDev.
*Subscribe to our mailing list to never miss another episode and stay up to date with event news: https://www.aviadev.com/keep-me-updated In this episode, we cover the latest route and fleet developments in African aviation. Topics include: 02:51 Ethiopian Airlines' Fleet Expansion at Dubai Air Show with more A350-900 and 737 Max 8s 11:10 Air Senegal's Surprising Boeing "Order" of 15 Boeing 737 MAX 8s 21:08 Air Côte d'Ivoire's landmark Embraer 4 x E175 Order. Read Behramjee's analysis 33:53 Ethiopian Airlines and Air Congo's ATR 72-600 Order 36:43 Flydubai's Massive Aircraft Orders from Airbus and Boeing and what it could mean for Africa 43:49 Emirates' New Routes to Cape Town and Nairobi 48:47 Kenya's Aviation Policy and Market Access Issues, plus challenges Facing Kenya Airways 01:00:33 Air Transat's New Routes to West Africa (Dakar, Senegal and Accra, Ghana) 01:14:32 Air Tanzania's New Vic Falls - Cape Town route 01:20:04 Farewell and AviaDev Connectivity Update 2025 Awards preview This month's guests are: Sean Mendis, Aviation Consultant. CONNECT WITH SEAN Behramjee Ghadially, Aviation Consultant. CONNECT WITH BEHRAMJEE
Subscribe to our mailing list to never miss another episode and stay up to date with event news: https://www.aviadev.com/keep-me-updated This episode was recorded Tuesday 2nd December on location in Luanda, Angola, during the 57th AFRAA AGA. Join Jon Howell, Founder and CEO of AviaDev Africa, as he sits down with Raphael Haddad, President of Jetcraft Commercial, to discuss fleet growth, financing, and the future of African connectivity. Raphael shares his insights on supply chain challenges, risk perception, airline financing, and the impact of Nigeria signing the Cape Town Convention. They also explore trends in aircraft acquisition, leasing, and fleet composition for the next decade. Find out more about Jetcraft Commercial Listen to the previous interview from Feb 2025 Listen to the interview from December 2023
Subscribe to our mailing list to never miss another episode and stay up to date with event news: https://www.aviadev.com/keep-me-updated In this episode, we feature Adefunke Adeyemi, Secretary-General of the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), as she begins her second term. Host Jon Howell, CEO and Founder of AviaDev Africa, asks the tough questions regarding implementation, disputes, enforcement, and opportunities. Reflections on the first term as SG What do you say to SAATM skeptics? How many countries can be classified as "SAATM Operational" today? Is AFCAC going to publish a YD compliance scorecard? What is the dispute resolution process if any airline is denied traffic rights? What punitive measures can AFCAC take? How can AFCAC ensure it represents airlines of all shapes, sizes and ownership structures? KPIs for SG's next 3-year term as AFCAC SG You can follow Adefunke Adeyemi on LinkedIn here Listen to the previous interview here
In this episode, we feature the exciting development of Cape Winelands Airport in the Western Cape, South Africa. Jon is joined by Mark Wilkinson, Director, and together, they discuss the project's inception, environmental impact assessment approval, collaboration with Cape Town Air Access, NACO, and Growthpoint, and the significant economic and aviation impacts. This episode provides a comprehensive overview of the airport's vision to transform an old military airfield into a full commercial international airport, unlocking business opportunities and supporting sustainable growth in the region. Watch the video from Windhoek here Connect with Mark on LinkedIn
In this episode, we cover the latest route and fleet developments in African aviation. Topics include: SAA's new Johannesburg - Gaborone route and fleet RFP Proflight Zambia's new Maun route via Livingstone Airlink's new Zanzibar route from June on E2 Airlink to Nacala from Feb 2026 Airlink is increasing Blantyre to daily Malawi Airlines Liliongwe to Johannesburg increased to 10x weekly New Lilongwe to Entebbe route 4x weekly Air Cote d'Ivoire to Beirut from Jan 26 Lufthansa Group's Africa expansion Brussels airlines to open Kilimanjaro Nairobi-Frankfurt on LH increased from 5 weekly to daily Munich to Johannesburg to move to year-round Zurich to Windhoek new route on Edelweiss Discover to add A350s Frankfurt to Seychelles to become year-round Air Seychelles to go daily to Abu Dhabi Air Peace's Caribbean charter flights Ethiopian increasing Rome to double daily from 1 June 2026 This month's guests are: Sean Mendis, Aviation Consultant. CONNECT WITH SEAN Behramjee Ghadially, Aviation Consultant. CONNECT WITH BEHRAMJEE
In this episode of AviaDev Insight Africa, host Jon Howell speaks with three inspirational AviaDev ambassadors—Mahek Shah, Usman Cisse, and Ellah Wafula about their experiences at the recent ICAO Next Generation of Aviation Professionals event in Durban, August 2025. Supported by Airlink, these young aviators not only attended the event but also spoke to a global audience. They discuss their backgrounds, motivations, and key insights gained from the summit. The conversation highlights the importance of mentorship, structured pathways, and collaboration across generations to empower the future leaders of the African aviation industry. They also emphasize the role of social media in engaging and inspiring the next generation. The episode includes reflections on the impact and legacy of such events and calls for more structured support to bridge the gap for young aviation enthusiasts in Africa. Connect with Ousman on LinkedIn Follow Ousman on TikTok Follow Ousman on Instagram Connect with Mahek on LinkedIn Follow Wings for Women on Instagram Find out more about Wings for Women Connect with Ellah on LinkedIn Find out more about AWAM Kenya
In this episode of AviaDev Insight Africa, Jon welcomes SAA's CCO, Tebogo Tsimane. Together, they dive into SAA's upcoming 4th November route launch, Johannesburg to Gaborone, and explore the strategic and operational reasons behind this move. They then move into a discussion around SAA's fleet expansion and modernization plans, including their partnership with Turkish carrier Sun Express and the expected launch of new long-haul and regional routes. Tebogo emphasizes the importance of densifying current markets and strengthening partnerships with travel agents. Connect/ Follow Tebogo
In this episode of Avia Dev Insight Africa, host Jon Howell, CEO and founder of AviaDev Africa, discusses the latest developments in communications and technology in African aviation with Yann Cabaret, CEO of SITA for Aircraft, and Martin Smillie, Senior Vice President, The Communications Services Business Unit The episode focuses on how targeted investments in technology can enhance operational efficiency, build resilience, and improve the bottom line for African airports and airlines. Connect/Follow Yann on LinkedIn Connect/ Follow Martin on LinkedIn
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