Air Zim to host African airlines

Air Zimbabwe will play host to the 48th Annual General Assembly (AGA) and Summit of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) scheduled to take place at the Elephant Hills Hotel in Victoria Falls from 20 to 22 November.
This important annual event which was last held in Brazzaville, Congo in November 2015, is expected to attract over 400 high profile delegates from the aviation industry in Africa, Europe, Middle East, Asia and North America.
During a press conference held in Victoria Falls as part of an advance visit earlier this week, Dr. Elijah Chingosho, AFRAA Secretary General said: “The AFRAA AGA is the premier gathering of African airline CEOs and senior global aviation executives. Annually, the AGA brings together aviation leaders and stakeholders to take stock of aviation milestones and plan the future for the development of African aviation.”
The AGA will discuss issues on the development of air transport in Africa in general and development opportunities for African airlines in particular. Air transport in Africa is an economic bridge – linking people, goods and capital to markets and industries and integrating the vast continent.
The President of AFRAA and CEO of Air Zimbabwe, Mr. Edmund Makona on his part thanked AFRAA for the opportunity to host this major aviation event.
He stated that hosting the event in Zimbabwe, and in particular, Victoria Falls, presented an excellent opportunity to strengthen aviation in the country and further promotes the tourism sector.
“It is a pleasure and an honour to host the 48th AFRAA Annual General Assembly and Summit in Victoria Falls. Air Zimbabwe looks forward to welcome airline top executives and other aviation stakeholders to one of the most attractive tourist destinations in the world and home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World – the mighty Victoria Falls,” he added.
In addition to the provision of an excellent platform for brand visibility through sponsorship, the General Assembly and Summit of AFRAA will present exhibition opportunities for aviation companies to showcase their services, equipment, components, supplies and IT solutions.
The 48th AFRAA AGA will be attended by Chairmen and CEOs from African airlines, ICAO, IATA, AFCAC, civil aviation authorities, airport companies, air navigation services providers as well as aircraft and engine manufacturers, component suppliers, and many other service providers.
The AFRAA Secretary General met some stakeholders in Zimbabwe representing various government ministries.
The preparations teams from AFRAA Secretariat and Air Zimbabwe held their preliminary meeting and activities which will culminate to a successful event in November. “AFRAA and Air Zimbabwe teams are dedicated to ensure that delegates will experience yet another memorable AGA this year” added Dr. Chingosho.
The African Airlines Association, is a trade association of airlines from the member states of the African Union (AU). Founded in Accra, Ghana, in April, 1968, and headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, the primary purposes of AFRAA are to foster commercial and technical co-operation among African airlines and to represent their common interests.
AFRAA membership of 35 airlines cuts across the entire continent and includes all the major intercontinental African operators. The Association members represent over 85% of total international traffic carried by African airlines.
Currently, the Chief Executive Officer of Air Zimbabwe, Mr. Edmund Makona is the President of AFRAA. Air Zimbabwe is a wholly government–owned private company (registered as Air Zimbabwe (Pvt) Limited) and is the national carrier of Zimbabwe. The airline’s fleet comprises of B737, B767-200ER, MA60 and Airbus A320 aircraft.