Alongside the growth projections, discussions also focused on some of the structural challenges facing the sector. These included high operating costs, blocked airline funds, aircraft financing, infrastructure requirements, safety oversight and limited intra-African connectivity. IATA figures presented during the event showed that Africa accounts for $774 million of the $970 million in blocked airline funds globally as of March 2026.
Safety and operational efficiency were also recurring topics across the conference programme, with sessions examining airport infrastructure, runway safety, operational resilience and regulatory coordination. Aviation financing and fleet expansion formed another area of discussion, particularly as African carriers continue to expand capacity while managing rising operational costs and aircraft availability pressures.
