The African Airlines Association (AFRAA) convened its 198th Executive Committee Meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, on Saturday, July 11, 2026, bringing together the chief executives of some of the continent’s leading airlines to deliberate on key policy and advocacy issues aimed at strengthening Africa’s aviation industry.
The high-level meeting was chaired by Capt. George Kamal, Acting Group Chief Executive Officer of Kenya Airways, who presided over discussions focused on advancing AFRAA’s mission and championing the interests of its member airlines amid the evolving challenges and opportunities facing the African air transport sector.
The Executive Committee, AFRAA’s highest decision-making body between General Assembly meetings, is composed of the chief executive officers of major African carriers, including Tunisair, which serves as the First Vice Chairperson, and RwandAir, the Second Vice Chairperson.
Other members of the committee are Ethiopian Airlines, EGYPTAIR, TAAG – Linhas Aéreas de Angola, Air Tanzania Company Limited, Royal Air Maroc, Congo Airways, ASKY Airlines, LAM Mozambique and Fly Gabon.
During the meeting, the committee reviewed strategic actions and advocacy initiatives designed to support the growth and sustainability of African airlines, while addressing industry priorities such as market access, connectivity, operational efficiency, regulatory harmonisation and collaboration among carriers across the continent.
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AFRAA has continued to play a pivotal role in promoting the development of a safe, sustainable and interconnected African aviation industry, particularly through its advocacy for the implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), improved infrastructure and policies that support airline competitiveness.
According to the association’s governance structure, the Executive Committee is responsible for supervising and controlling the affairs of AFRAA and for formulating and determining policies within the framework of the association’s Articles of Association, By-Laws and Regulations adopted by the General Assembly.
The Nairobi meeting comes at a critical time for African aviation as airlines across the continent seek to accelerate recovery, expand intra-African connectivity and position themselves to take advantage of the opportunities presented by growing passenger demand and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Industry observers say the decisions and policy directions emerging from AFRAA’s Executive Committee meetings are increasingly important in shaping the future of African aviation and ensuring that the continent’s airlines remain competitive in the global air transport market.
