Visionaries, innovators, and industry leaders from across Africa and the globe have convened in Nairobi this week for the inaugural Africa Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Symposium, marking a pivotal moment in the continent’s aviation history. Hosted by Fahari Aviation, a subsidiary of Kenya Airways, the symposium is keen on exploring the transformative potential of AAM to address Africa’s unique transportation challenges and unlock new economic opportunities.
Under the theme dubbed, “AAM Ecosystem Development in Africa: The Future of African Mobility”, the event serves as a pivotal platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration, focusing on the practical implementation of AAM solutions such as electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOLs) aircraft and drone technology to revolutionize logistics, healthcare, and urban mobility across the continent.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, the PS Mohamed Daghar, from the State Department for Transport reaffirmed the Kenyan government’s commitment to fostering a conducive regulatory environment for AAM. “We are dedicated to fast-tracking regulatory frameworks, investing in infrastructure, and developing a skilled workforce to support AAM adoption,” Daghar stated. “This is a strategic priority for Kenya, and we are ready to lead the way.”
Allan Kilavuka, the Group MD and CEO of Kenya Airways and the Chairperson of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), highlighted a significant milestone, revealing Kenya’s crucial role in enabling Airbus’s Aalto HAPS system to achieve a record-breaking 27-day continuous flight in the stratosphere. “This achievement underscores Kenya’s strategic position as a hub for aviation innovation,” Kilavuka noted. “It demonstrates our commitment to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in air mobility.”
On the other hand, Hawkins Musili, GM of Fahari Aviation, emphasized the symposium’s role in driving tangible change. “This gathering is more than a discussion; it’s a catalyst for action,” Musili stated. “We are here to build a roadmap for integrating AAM into Africa’s transportation infrastructure, ensuring sustainable growth and improved connectivity, offering solutions to long-standing challenges and opening up new opportunities for growth and connectivity.”
The symposium highlighted Africa’s potential to capture a significant share of the projected $1 trillion global AAM market by 2040. Discussions focused on practical applications, including medical deliveries to remote areas, efficient logistics, and sustainable urban transport, demonstrating the technology’s potential to address critical societal needs.
The event further underscored the importance of public-private partnerships, cross-border cooperation, and knowledge sharing to build a robust AAM ecosystem across Africa. Participants stressed the need for streamlined regulatory processes, infrastructure development, and workforce training to ensure the successful integration of AAM technologies.
The Africa AAM Symposium 2025, taking place from March 18 – 19, 2025, is part of Fahari Aviation’s and Kenya Airways’ broader strategy to drive transformation and sustainability within the African aviation sector. Through the symposium, Kenya Airways aims to foster dialogue around key challenges such as infrastructure development, regulatory reforms, and technology adoption.
Subsequently, the Symposium is set to act as a catalyst for long-term partnerships among African airlines, governments, and other stakeholders. This is by addressing critical challenges through collaboration and innovation, which will help shape a more resilient and competitive African aviation industry that can unlock the continent’s economic potential.
Fahari Aviation (FAV) is a fully owned subsidiary of Kenya Airways (KQ) group set up in 2020. The company envisions spearheading the effective application of Future Aviation Technologies such as Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), across various sectors in Africa and beyond. FAV is a service provider specializing in implementing efficient and cost-effective UAS solutions for Training, Operations, Consultancy, Maintenance, and related services.
Fahari Aviation has a Remote Operations unit (ROC) certified by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority that offers enterprise solutions in key service areas such as Agriculture, Surveillance, Infrastructure Inspections, Conservation, Power, Oil & Gas, Government Services, Emergency Response among others.
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