The Africa Airports Council (AAC) is set to convene a high-level meeting in Tanzania to tackle the pressing issue of the aviation industry’s environmental impact across the continent. Come April 2025, the 73rd Airports Council International (ACI) Africa Board and Committee Meeting, which will bring together key stakeholders from the aviation sector, government agencies, environmental experts, and industry leaders, aims to develop sustainable strategies to reduce the sector’s carbon footprint while supporting growth and connectivity.
According to Tanzania Times, Transport Minister, Prof. Makame Mnyaa Mbarawa, reveals that the forthcoming ACI meeting is an important platform for Tanzania and other African countries from which people in the local aviation industry are to exchange expertise and learn new skills. “Tanzania will also benefit from hosting the meeting because the country’s aviation personnel stand to learn a lot from their counterparts from other countries in addition to getting a boost in conference and wildlife tourism,” Prof Mbarawa maintained.
The minister added that experts in the aviation industry including airports, airlines and ground handling will be taking stock of how much air transport contributes to environmental pollution and how to address the problem for a sustainable future in air transportation. According to Prof Mbarawa, delegates will also address issues of safety and economic challenges facing the sector. The ACI Africa Board and Committee Meeting which goes in sync with the Regional Conference and Exhibition, is hosted by the Tanzania Airports Authority (TAA) and takes place in the Northern City of Arusha, for seven days from April 24 to 30, 2025.
Running under the theme of ‘Navigating towards a Greener Future: Harnessing Sustainable Aviation and Tourism for Economic Prosperity,’ the continental aviation gathering will focus on sustainable practices to drive economic growth while ensuring environmental stewardship in the air transport and tourism sectors. The event promises to bring together aviation and tourism leaders, policymakers, and industry experts from across Africa and beyond with the ACI Conference Delegates getting the opportunity to connect with industry peers, share insights, and explore innovative solutions that shape the future of aviation and tourism in Africa.
Gathering in Arusha, a city with the reputation of being a premier destination for global and regional events, the more than 400 participants are encouraged to prepare for an impactful week of networking and knowledge-sharing. On his part the Director General of Tanzania Airports Authority (TAA) Abdul Mombokaleo said the country is already undertaking major steps to make the terminal in the country environment friendly digital powered and adhere to international standards. “Airports are essentially special economic zones since the terminals happen to be an umbrella of various businesses, industries and other sectors such as tourism,” said Mombokaleo.
The previous ACI Africa Board Meeting took place in Johannesburg, South Africa, on September 17 and 18, 2024, as part of the 33rd ACI Africa Annual General Assembly, Regional Conference, Exhibition, and Airshow, held from September 16 to 22, 2024. ACI Africa is the international association representing African airports, with 75 members from 54 African countries. The association oversees the management of more than 265 airports and 59 business partners across the continent.
On the other hand, Tanzania, which hosts the 73rd ACI Africa Board Meeting this year, is home to a total of 58 airports. The Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA), located in Dar es Salaam, is the largest and busiest airport in Tanzania, accounting for over 70 percent of Tanzania’s air passengers’ traffic of around 3.0 million. The country also boasts more than 300 private aerodromes owned by mining companies and tour operators in National Parks and Game Reserves.
