A delegation led by Somali Minister of Transport and Aviation Minister Fardowsa Osman Igal attended the 6th Aviation Africa Summit and Exhibition (Aviation Africa 2022), which took place in Rwanda’s capital Kigali between 12-13 of September.
The conference, which brings together government representatives, aviation figureheads, regulators, legislators, manufacturers and vendors from around the world, explores how to drive the aviation industry’s revival after COVID-19.
The event is organized by Rwanda’s Ministry of Infrastructure.
Minister of Transport and Aviation Minister Fardowsa Osman Igal, and the Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority, Ahmed Moalim Hassan, held a special meeting with the new Secretary General of the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), Ms. Adefunke Adeyemi, on the sidelines of the summit.
They discussed how to improve the safety of civil aviation in Somalia.
The minister also met with RwandAir CEO Yvonne Manzi Makolo, who became the first woman to serve as IATA’s chair.
During their meeting, they discussed how Rwanda Air was founded and the stages it went through.
Igal said she was keen on learning from other airline startups as Somalia explores the possibility of restoring its national flag carrier, Somali Airlines.
The 6th Aviation Africa Summit and Exhibition comes after the COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected the aviation industry worldwide. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said that Africa’s aviation industry was among the hardest hit.
African airlines are estimated to have incurred losses of up to $8.6 billion in 2021 due to the COVID-19 restrictions. The loss was about half of the airlines’ revenue in 2019.
The next conference will be held in Abuja, Nigeria.
