Experts from the sector, including AfriSAF’s CEO and co-founder Kwame Bekoe, and Silas Udahemuka, Director General of the Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority, will debate and present their views on the measures that need to be taken to take the continent’s lengthy debates and studies from paper- and power-point-based dreams into reality.

The panel will be moderated by aviation industry veteran Vijay Poonoosamy, Barrister/Partner at Dentons Mauritius LLP.

“Africa’s success with SAF depends on mobilising feedstock, choosing the right technologies, reducing risks, and aligning policy with market incentives,” said Bekoe of AfriSAF. 

“At AfriSAF we are enabling SAF production using our feedstock management tool and bringing together the right stakeholders to develop cost competitive projects.

“From energy independence to green jobs, waste management and improved air quality, our message is that SAF production could bring a disproportionate net positive impact to Africa on several dimension,” added Bekoe.

The AfriSAF CEO will also present his firm’s plans in the Insight Theatre at Aviation Africa, with a presentation titled: Solutions for enabling SAF production in Africa.

There is an intense focus on access to India’s booming international air travel market as India’s home-grown players seek to capture their fair share of traffic, which has for many years been tapped successfully by overseas carriers.

The pace at which India opens its market, alongside the rate at which Indian carriers can grow internationally as they take delivery of longer-haul aircraft, are major talking points.

In the panel titled: Market dynamics of India and South Asia, veteran airline leader and consultant Willy Boulter, the former chief commercial officer of IndiGo, will lead the debate.

“Over the past decades, India market access and regulation has been inconsistent, to say the least,” explained Boulter. “With the burgeoning market, a large number of foreign countries and airlines are pushing for more clarity in opening the skies and some would say we are at a watershed moment.”

Aviation India is pleased to welcome Steven Greenway, Chief Executive Officer of flyadeal, the rapidly expanding Saudi Arabian low-cost carrier to the Summit, in addition to another airline industry veteran Sandeep Bahl, executive programme director, US-India aviation cooperation programme.

“Being one of the most dynamic air travel markets in the world, India simply cannot be ignored for any serious airline,” said Greenway. “I am absolutely delighted to represent flyadeal at the upcoming Aviation India conference in Delhi as it is a perfect platform and perfect timing to talk about our exciting plans to enter the India market from the end of the year.

Greenway added: "With our low-cost proposition serving a number of Indian destinations direct from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, we are gearing up for a very busy period.”

“I look forward to joining fellow delegates on a panel discussion to share insights about being a new entrant to India that builds on the success of our very first scheduled flights to South Asia earlier this year when we launched flights to Pakistan,” said Greenway.

The 2nd edition of Aviation India & South Asia Summit & Exhibition 2025 is organised by Times Aerospace Events (MESA) alongside joint venture partner, the MRO Association of India.

Under the event headline: “Shaping the pathway for Indian aviation”, the Summit promises to be one of the most significant gatherings of the commercial air transport community and ecosystem this year in India and builds upon the success of the launch summit in 2024 which attracted 582 delegates.

It is expected the 2025 edition will attract over 800 delegates and some 70 exhibitors.

Among the senior names from India’s aviation industry taking part in the Summit are Campbell Wilson of Air India, Pieter Elbers of IndiGo, Salil Gupte of Boeing India, and Bharat Malkani, CEO of Max Aerospace.

Aviation India summit 2025 builds on the formula of the successful Times Aerospace Aviation Africa events, which began in Dubai in 2015 and have been held in Rwanda, Egypt, Nigeria, Ethiopia and South Africa.

This strategic forum convenes Africa's top aviation leaders to align on critical policy priorities, technical strategies, and joint advocacy, collectively defining and influencing the continent's aviation future.

Why this meeting matters:

*The session will drive consensus on critical aviation themes, including safety oversight, sustainable aviation development, fair competition, and the accelerated implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM).

*The meeting also presents an opportunity to coordinate leadership roles and collective strategies, reinforcing Africa’s influence in global aviation decision-making.

*AFCAC calls on all Ministers and Directors General to actively participate in this pivotal meeting. Beyond coordination, it is a strategic moment to amplify Africa’s aviation agenda on the world stage.

Participation signals a firm commitment to a common African aviation future and ensures every voice contributes to shaping the continent’s global aviation footprint.

The event was aimed to inspire the growing role of women, particularly in civil aviation, while showcasing African women's tenacity, capable of succeeding in any professional context. The flight took place last Sunday within the Luanda–Johannesburg–Luanda itinerary, operated by a crew of thirteen highly qualified professionals.

The airline said: “The scheduling of this 100% female-crewed flight is a demonstration of TAAG Angola Airlines' strong commitment to gender equality and career opportunities within the company. The “People and Community" focus is one of the fundamental axes in TAAG's corporate strategy, and this action aligns with the promotion of core values of inclusion, diversity, and meritocracy as success factors for an equity and innovation work environment.

“Out of TAAG's approximately 2600 employees, and considering gender distribution, about 69% are men, and 31% are women. Thus, multiple leadership roles are occupied by women in both administrative and operational areas.”

The African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) announced it would be hosting the high-level strategic meeting which will involve African ministers, directors-general and heads of civil aviation and other senior decision makers in an announcement today.

The meeting will take place on the sidelines of the premier African aviation event, Aviation Africa which takes place on September 4-5

The event itself brings together industry through manufacturers, suppliers and airlines with government and specialist bodies. More than 70 airlines are represented and many of the VIP delegates also participate on the Summit platform or in symposia on the event’s Insight Theatre stage.

In a statement issued by AFCAC, said the event offers “a rare platform for top-level leaders to align on shared policy priorities, technical strategies, and joint advocacy efforts that will influence the future of aviation on the continent.”

AFCAC called on all Ministers and Directors General to actively participate in this pivotal meeting. “Beyond coordination, it is a strategic moment to amplify Africa’s aviation agenda on the world stage,” the commission said.

Rwanda’s Civil Aviation Authority (RCAA) is coordinating the event in partnership with Times Aerospace Events.

RCAA outlined the importance of the event to shaping the future.

●          The session will drive consensus on critical aviation themes including safety oversight, sustainable aviation development, fair competition, and the accelerated implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM).

●          The meeting also presents an opportunity to coordinate leadership roles and collective strategies, reinforcing Africa’s influence in global aviation decision-making.

 “Participation signals a firm commitment to a common African aviation future and ensures every voice contributes to shaping the continent’s global aviation footprint,” AFCAC said.

Speakers included Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, director general of the UAE GCAA, Henry Hooi, Chairman of Volar Air Mobility Holding, Saif Aldarmaki - chairman of Volar Air Mobility Industries.

The event focused on the development of various green aviation technologies, including sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs), electric and hydrogen propulsion technologies, AI pilot training, green materials and green infrastructure development.

Sustainability expert, Dr. Sharon Lu presented on the advancement of the SAF industry and the alignment of industry initiatives with ICAO’s global decarbonisation goals, highlighting opportunities for cross-border cooperation. Guo Yilin from Liaoning General Avia on Academy shared the development roadmap of the RX-series electric aircraft— the World’s Widest series of Electric Aircraft.

A key highlight was the progress of the Green Avia on Technology (GAT) Hub, an integrated incubation and commercialisation platform ecosystem for sustainable aviation, established an MoU signed last year between the GCAA and Volar in Montreal during the ICAO Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Symposium.

“Business aviation in India is poised for exponential growth in the coming years,” said Gp Capt Rajesh Bali, managing director of the Business Aviation Operators Association of India, which is a partner association for Aviation India Summit 2025.

“With the fastest-growing population of High Net-Worth Individuals (HNIs) globally, the demand for private and business aircraft is set to surge,” according to Bali.

Leaders from the business aviation industry, including Kanika Tekriwal, Founder & CEO, JetSetGo, Rohit Kapur, Managing Partner, The Jet Company, and Col. Sanjay Julka, CEO-Technical, Club One Air will feature on the panel titled: Creating a business aircraft and general aviation market fit for India. The panel will be moderated by Sunam Datta, Chief Commercial Officer, Skyplan.

However, the sector’s growth depends on policy changes if it is to realise its full potential.

“The growth of business aviation in India is being held back by a tax regime that makes importing business jets prohibitively expensive,” said Julka of Club One Air.

“Discussing a solution at the Aviation India Summit, in partnership with government and the industry, will be an important contribution to unlocking the potential of our industry,” he added. Gp Capt Bali added: “As BAOA champions progressive models like fractional ownership and professional aircraft management, India is ready to welcome a new wave of business jets and aircraft across categories. The next five years promise to be a transformative phase for business aviation in India.’”

The 2nd edition of Aviation India & South Asia Summit & Exhibition 2025 is organised by Times Aerospace Events (MESA) alongside joint venture partner, the MRO Association of India.

Under the event headline: “Shaping the pathway for Indian aviation”, the Summit promises to be one of the most significant gatherings of the commercial air transport community and ecosystem this year in India and builds upon the success of the launch summit in 2024 which attracted 582 delegates.

It is expected the 2025 edition will attract over 800 delegates and some 70 exhibitors.

Taking place from 8-12 February 2026, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, WDS 2026, held under the theme of ‘The Future of Defence Integration,’ will serve as a platform for showcasing the latest advancements across all five defence domains — air, land, sea, space, and security.

Organisers said building on the success of its previous editions, WDS 2026 is attracting ‘unprecedented’ interest from both local and international defence stakeholders.​

WDS 2026, founded by the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) in Saudi Arabia, is expected to feature exhibitor participation from an estimated 80 countries, including new participants including; Japan, Portugal, Uzbekistan and Finland.

Andrew Pearcey, CEO, stated: "The overwhelming demand for exhibition space is a testament to the show's growing reputation as a must-attend event for those shaping the next era of defence and global security. Our presence at IDEF provides an excellent opportunity to connect with key industry players and highlight the remarkable progress we've made in preparing for WDS 2026.”

Speakers on the infrastructure panel, titled: What are the challenges for India to achieve the right airport, ATM and ground services to support and deliver growth? include:

 Shri Vipin Kumar, Chairman, Airports Authority of India

 Videh Kumar Jaipuriar, CEO, Delhi International Airport Ltd

 Radha Bhatia, Chair, The Bird Group

 Hari Marar, MD & CEO, Bangalore International Airport

The infrastructure session will be moderated by Chloe Greenbank, Airports Editor for Aviation India. “It is incredibly exciting to bring these organisations together to examine India’s hugely ambitious airport development plan as it seeks to bring connectivity to its citizens across the country,” she said.

“Over the last decade the number of airports in India has grown from 74 to 160 with plans to add another 50 by 2029, according to AAI,” added Greenbank.

“Equally significant is the creation of dual-airport systems in Mumbai and Delhi with the opening of Navi Mumbai International Airport and Noida International Airport bringing much-needed extra capacity to these cities.

“India is on a steep upward trajectory in air transport and all players from airports to ground service providers have a critical role to ensure they meet the demands of airline customers and travellers,” Greenbank concluded.

The 2nd edition of Aviation India & South Asia Summit & Exhibition 2025 is organised by Times Aerospace Events alongside joint venture partner, the MRO Association of India.

Under the event headline: “Shaping the pathway for Indian aviation”, the Summit promises to be one of the most significant gatherings of the commercial air transport community and ecosystem this year in India and builds upon the success of the launch summit in 2024 which attracted 582 delegates.

It is expected the 2025 edition will attract over 800 delegates and some 70 exhibitors.

Aviation India summit 2025 builds on the formula of the successful Times Aerospace Aviation Africa events, which began in Dubai in 2015 and have been held in Rwanda, Egypt, Nigeria, Ethiopia and South Africa.

The Travel + Leisure awards ceremony — held in New York City, where the magazine is headquartered — gathered industry leaders and distinguished guests.

iGA Istanbul Airport’s corporate communications director, Gökhan Şengül, said: “We are truly honoured that the services we deliver at iGA Istanbul Airport are recognised not only for operational excellence but also for their cultural value. It is especially meaningful for us that Turkish culture — known for its hospitality, refinement, and service that exceeds global standards — stands out through our airport. In doing so, we take great pride in representing not only iGA, but also Istanbul and our country’s rich cultural heritage on the international stage, while contributing to its brand value.”

According to Travel + Leisure readers, airports were evaluated based on accessibility, check-in experience, security, dining options, shopping, and overall design.