From June 15 to 19, 2026, the Togolese capital, Lomé, is set to become the epicenter of African aviation, hosting the very first African Air Transport Convention and Exhibition. This landmark gathering represents a strategic step forward, designed to transform the vision of a unified and sustainable continental airspace into a tangible reality.
For five pivotal days, the global aviation industry will turn its attention to Togo. Lomé is poised to emerge as the definitive nerve center for African aviation by welcoming the inaugural African Air Transport Convention and Exhibition. This major event, operating under the esteemed patronage of President Faure Gnassingbé, is spearheaded by the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) in close collaboration with the African Union (AU).
Forging a “single african sky” for enhanced continental connectivity
At the core of this crucial week’s discussions lies a paramount theme: “A Single African Sky: Connectivity and Sustainable Air Transport Development.” The objective is unequivocally clear: to provide a decisive impetus to the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM).
Through this convention, SAATM, initially launched by the African Union in 2018, aims to dismantle the historical aerial barriers that have long fragmented the continent. Consequently, this gathering is positioned as the indispensable catalyst for transforming this ambitious vision into an operational reality. Furthermore, SAATM’s promises are far-reaching: a comprehensive liberalization of the sector designed to open up African skies, drastically reduce often prohibitive ticket prices between neighboring countries, and significantly bolster overall connectivity across all nations on the continent.
A high-level summit to define the future
The event promises to be an unparalleled platform for networking and high-level policy formulation. Over five days, Lomé’s conference facilities will welcome an impressive roster of attendees, including heads of state, ministers of transport, and civil aviation authority leaders, alongside airline executives, investors, and equipment manufacturers.
In addition, industry experts specializing in sustainable development and logistics will contribute to enriching the discourse. The program features plenary sessions aimed at harmonizing regulations, a comprehensive exhibition showcasing technological innovations, and dedicated business meetings to forge future financial partnerships.
Lomé: an obvious strategic and economic choice
AFCAC and the African Union’s decision to select the coastal city of Lomé as the host is far from coincidental. Indeed, Lomé has firmly established itself as a pivotal crossroads in West Africa, notably by housing the headquarters of the regional airline Asky. Asky serves as a genuine model of sub-regional integration, already connecting over twenty destinations across the continent and making its Togolese hub the ideal proving ground for SAATM’s ambitious goals.
By hosting this historic first, Togo emphatically reasserts its indispensable role as a key player in African integration, demonstrating that a significant portion of the continent’s future economic development will unfold in its skies.
