A landmark gathering is set to unfold in Lomé from June 15 to 19, 2026, as the city becomes the epicenter of Africa’s aviation future during the African Air Transport Convention and Exhibition. This continental event, spearheaded by the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), will bring together key stakeholders to shape the trajectory of the continent’s air transport sector.
The summit, organized in collaboration with the African Union Commission and under the distinguished patronage of Togo‘s President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, aims to fast-track the implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) while fostering deeper integration across the aviation industry.
Over 500 delegates are expected to converge on Lomé, including ministers, aviation regulators, airline executives, airport operators, investors, development agencies, and international partners. High-profile figures such as Lerato Dorothy Mataboge, AU Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and Nardos Bekele-Thomas, CEO of the AU Development Agency-NEPAD, will lead critical discussions.
The agenda features five themed days, each addressing pivotal aspects of Africa’s aviation landscape: market integration, cargo and air corridor development, infrastructure investment, technological innovation, and strategic partnerships. Key debates will focus on enhancing intra-African connectivity, lowering air transport costs, financing infrastructure upgrades, accelerating digital transformation, and advancing sustainable aviation fuels—all aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and AfCFTA objectives.
Organizers anticipate tangible outcomes, including the adoption of the Lomé Ministerial Declaration, the launch of the African Air Routes Development Platform (ARDP), and the establishment of new cooperation and investment frameworks to bolster a more competitive and unified African aviation market.
