The African Development Bank (AfDB) has launched the Integrated Aviation Transform Program (IATP), a continent-wide initiative designed to revitalize Africa’s aviation industry and enhance regional air connectivity.
The program was unveiled on Feb. 25 during the Airlines, Capital and Connectivity Forum held in Nairobi. The event was partly attended virtually.
Mike Salawou, Director of the Infrastructure and Urban Development Department at the AfDB, described the IATP as a strategic roadmap to foster a more integrated, competitive and climate-aligned aviation ecosystem across Africa. He noted that the platform seeks to catalyse collaboration between governments and private-sector actors to unleash sustainable growth within the sector.
A central objective of the program is to improve African airlines’ access to affordable aircraft fleets, thereby expanding intra-African connectivity and strengthening the commercial viability of carriers. The initiative is anchored on three pillars: operationalizing the Single African Air Transport Market, reinforcing aviation safety oversight, and advancing skills development within the industry.
The two-day forum gathered senior government officials, development finance institutions and airline executives from across the continent to deliberate on sector priorities, investment requirements and innovative financing mechanisms. The dialogue underscored a shared commitment to positioning aviation as a driver of economic integration and long-term development in Africa.
