The programme will optimise its inventory levels and reduce its operational costs for its E190 jets.

The contract will provide support for 13 aircraft. Kenya Airways is an Embraer customer since 2006 and flies to 45 destinations worldwide, 37 of which are in Africa, connecting over 5 million passengers.

“Embraer is honoured by Kenya Airways’ trust on the Collaborative Inventory Planning management system. We are ready to support the airline to keep its E-Jets fleet ready to fly, matching excellent performance and low operational costs. Our solution will provide Kenya Airways access to Embraer’s global logistics network and deepen the partnership between our companies,” said Carlos Naufel, President and CEO, Embraer Services & Support.

The agreement continues to ensure products can be delivered quickly and efficiently, with distribution rights of Collins’ line of oxygen systems, Goodrich lighting solutions, and beverage makers for Airbus, Boeing and many other platforms. 

The strategic agreement combines the inventory management, forecasting and delivery expertise of Satair with Collins’ premium cabin interior solutions. It covers emergency supplemental oxygen equipment, galley equipment for on-board beverage service, and a range of cabin and external lighting products, including logo, wing, landing, navigation, emergency, anti-collision and taxi lights. 

“This extension builds on our long-standing collaboration with Collins Aerospace, allowing us to provide airlines and maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities worldwide with critical safety and comfort products,” said Cindy da Silva, Director of OEM Product Management at Satair. “Our combined expertise ensures reliable support and availability for these essential systems.” 

"As a leading provider of cabin interior products and solutions, Collins’ airline customers rely on aftermarket speed and agility to keep fleets operational and ensure the highest levels of passenger comfort and safety,” said John Baske, vice president of Services & Support at Collins Aerospace. “Satair’s customer reach and supply chain prowess ensure our airline customers receive premium support no matter where they are around the globe.”

The new service will be operated by a Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.

Mesfin Tasew, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, said: “We are excited to expand our passenger flight network in the U.A.E. with the addition of Sharjah, a key economic hub in the United Arab Emirates. This new service complements our existing cargo operations and strengthens our connectivity to the Middle East. With enhanced travel options, our customers can now explore the UAE’s rich cultural heritage and dynamic business landscape with greater convenience.”

This sees Kenya Airways become the first Sub-Saharan airline to distribute New Distribution Capability (NDC) content through the Amadeus Travel Platform. This means that Amadeus-connected travel sellers will be among the first to gain access to NDC content from one of the most forward-looking carriers in the region.

This follows Kenya Airways’ decision to adopt Altéa NDC to effectively and consistently distribute and service new content and fares through an NDC connectivity across channels, enhancing its retailing capabilities. The strong synergies between Altéa NDC and the Amadeus Travel Platform will enable faster and smoother implementation of the airline's NDC offers, reducing time to market and bring enhanced productivity to travel sellers.

When fully implemented, travel sellers worldwide will have access to the entire Kenya Airways NDC content offering, allowing agents to build new and exciting travel offers.

Julius Thairu, chief commercial and customer officer, Kenya Airways said: “This is a significant milestone for Kenya Airways as we continue to innovate and enhance our travel retailing capabilities. Amadeus has been at the forefront of driving NDC adoption across the global travel ecosystem and was therefore the natural choice for this step on our distribution journey. We are very happy to be able to offer our full range of NDC content through Amadeus’ leading technology and to its travel sellers’ network.

Christophe Roux, SVP Airlines, Middle East, Turkey and Africa, Amadeus, added: “Kenya Airways was among the first airlines in Africa to understand the value that NDC technology could offer for its customers, and it’s a pleasure to help that retailing ambition come to life. We are very proud that Kenya Airways has trusted Amadeus end to end to enable its modern retailing strategy. With Kenya Airways’ NDC content live on the Amadeus Travel Platform, the airline will benefit from significant reach throughout the global community of travel sellers, which again will have the ability to create the bespoke, personalised offers travellers of today expect.”

Converix can be installed by any aircraft manufacturer, on any airframe type. It supports all in-flight entertainment and connectivity (IFEC) integration, cabin and galley operations, lighting, and other in-cabin applications. Airlines will also be able to monitor aircraft data, improve crew operations, manage cabin inventories and optimise aircraft maintenance.

The platform enables responsible artificial intelligence (AI), which can interface with the 10,000 plus datapoints across an aircraft. It will leverage Large Language Models (LLMs) and Agentic AI to analyse multiple terabytes of both structured and unstructured data, and provide consumable and data-rich airline analytics such as daily CEO and executive reports to greatly improve operational efficiency.

An AI virtual attendant at every seat empowers passengers with a wide range of personalised services on their journey such as their connections and luggage tracking, status on their hotel or car reservation, destination services such as restaurants recommendations, and much more. Consumable and rich data services can also help airlines deliver more personalisation and targeted advertising, which can be up to ten times the value of current in-flight media. 

Ken Sain, chief executive officer, Panasonic Avionics, said: “For the past two years, Panasonic Avionics has been focused on two strategic initiatives – to redefine the passenger experience and to reimagine the airline ownership experience. 

“Converix builds on the success of our Astrova seat-end IFE solution, and is designed with the same commitment to innovation, industrial design, and modularity. It represents the latest solution from Panasonic Avionics that helps airlines maximise digital engagement, drive loyalty economics, and improve operational efficiencies.”  

As a neutral application hosting platform, Converix will give control of the onboard passenger experience directly to airlines. Its Developer Platform offers airlines and third parties a natural ecosystem of software tools, environments and simulators to create and host applications seamlessly.

Andy Masson, Senior Vice President of Product and Strategy for Panasonic Avionics, said: “Converix embraces the key tenants that drive our product strategy – design, technology, and sustainable modularity – to create a radical game-changing solution for the airline industry. 

“It transforms the airline ownership experience with a modular design that is both lighter and consumes less power. It improves operational efficiencies by eliminating the need for multiple server boxes running separate systems. It also gives passengers what they want – endless personalised content instantly at their fingertips.”

Through this collaboration, NEC joins SITA’s Digital Travel Ecosystem, an open, interoperable framework that connects various systems for real-time digital identity verification. Developed in partnership with Indicio, SITA’s ecosystem eliminates the need for direct integrations between issuers and verifiers, simplifying adoption for airports, airlines, and governments.

At the core of the ecosystem is the Trust Network, which governs how digital credentials are shared securely around the world. Built with a privacy-by-design approach, it gives travellers control over their data, including when and with whom they share their credentials. Strong emphasis on data security and privacy means that personal information remains protected and in the hands of the traveler.

With 28% of airlines and 43% of airports planning to implement biometric identity management solutions in the next 12 months (SITA Air Transport IT Insights 2024), demand for interoperable systems is growing. A lack of standardisation has slowed widespread adoption, but the SITA-NEC collaboration addresses this challenge through a scalable framework for secure identity exchange.

“After years of investment, aviation and other travel stakeholders are now seeing the full potential of digital identities, and the industry is gearing up to scale,” said Jeremy Springall, senior vice president of Borders at SITA.

“With NEC’s biometric expertise and SITA’s industry-leading footprint of biometric touchpoints around the world, we’re well-positioned to accelerate the transformation of Digital Travel worldwide.”

“NEC brings more than 125 years of innovation and a global track record in trusted identity technologies,” said Nanaumi Nagamine, senior director of the DID Department at NEC. “With SITA, we’ve delivered proven biometric solutions at airports around the world, creating secure and seamless travel experiences for thousands of passengers every day. This expanded collaboration will accelerate global adoption and set a new standard for trusted digital identity in travel.”

By addressing longstanding interoperability challenges, the SITA and NEC collaboration will increase the adoption of digital identities by passengers, helping the industry reduce bottlenecks, improve security, and enhance the passenger experience at every touchpoint.

The collaboration will focus on aerostructures manufacturing, maintenance, repair, and overhaul activities.

“We are thrilled to strengthen our ties with Denel, a proven aerospace leader in South Africa, as the country looks to replace its legacy military aircraft. We are looking forward to providing South Africa with the most advanced aircraft in its category while cooperating with South Africa’s defence industry,” said Fabio Caparica, vice president of contracts at Embraer Defense & Security.

Chris Boshoff, Group executive CEO Aerospace of Denel, said: “Our longstanding relationship spans several decades, and this collaboration will further strengthen our ties. Denel is well-equipped and is a suitably qualified industrial partner to undertake the necessary tasks envisaged for the collaboration and will significantly enhance the strategic airlift support capabilities on the African continent.”

The KC-390 Millennium is a next generation military transport aircraft particularly suited for operations in South Africa. Its versatility, ease of reconfiguration between two missions, and ability to operate from unprepared airstrips make it an ideal, cost-efficient, aircraft for modern armed forces of the African continent. 

The KC-390 Millennium can carry more payload (26 tons) compared to other medium-sized military transport aircraft and flies faster (470 knots) and farther, being capable of performing a wide range of missions including humanitarian aid, transport and airdrop of cargo and troops, air-to-air refueling both as tanker and receiver, medical evacuation, search and rescue, firefighting and special operations, while operating from temporary or unpaved runways such as packed earth, soil and gravel.

With three weeks remaining until Arabian Travel Market (ATM), the event is on course to attract a record number of high value visitors, with registrations up 104% compared to the same time last year, reinforcing its position as an essential platform for travel trade professionals around the world.

International markets account for a substantial 52% of total visitor registrations, highlighting the event’s global appeal and underscoring the importance of fostering cross-cultural connections and collaborations. Meanwhile, visitors from the UAE and GCC contribute significantly to the total figures, accounting for 48% of registrations.

Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said: “Increased international attendance strengthens the global profile of ATM, providing a vital boost to the local economy and driving revenue in sectors such as hospitality, retail, and travel, thereby demonstrating the impact and strength of business events.”

“This year’s edition is expected to see notable growth in participation from key regions, reflecting demand from across the global tourism industry.” 

India, with its thriving outbound travel market and expanding aviation sector, remains a significant source of demand for the travel industry. Egypt’s tourism revenues reached US$15.3 billion in 2024, representing a more than 100% increase over the last decade, with the government setting a target of 30 million tourists by 2032. Major tourism investments in Saudi Arabia, driven by Vision 2030 initiatives, have positioned the Kingdom as a strong player in the global travel market. The UK remains a crucial hub for both inbound and outbound tourism, with a significant presence in business travel and among tour operators.

Last year, ATM 2024 saw a significant increase in visitors from Africa, the Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East, notching impressive year-on-year increases of 51%, 53%, 40%, and 26%, respectively, with indications that the growth trend will be replicated during this year’s edition. Regionally, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait saw some of the most significant visitor increases, up 48%, 40%, 39%, 28%, and 37%, respectively.

The event will be officially hosted by the Government of Rwanda, the Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority, RwandAir, and Rwanda Airports Company, promises to spotlight the many changes that have happened to propel Africa towards its aviation vision.

Under the theme “Collaborating to unlock Africa’s aviation growth”, the annual event brings together leaders from government, civil aviation authorities, airlines, airports, manufacturers, MRO providers and business aviation, plus suppliers from across the whole industry spectrum.

Speakers from across the industry including CEOs of Africa’s leading airlines, will be sharing their plans – and concerns at the event. Host airline, Rwanda’s chief executive Yvonne Makola will be revealing her strategies for their development and growth, particularly in line with the new Kigali international airport at Bugesera.

Upon completion, the airport will feature a 130,000-square-meter main terminal, capable of handling 8 million passengers annually, with potential expansion to accommodate over 14 million passengers in subsequent decades. Additionally, it will include a dedicated cargo terminal designed to manage 150,000 tons of cargo each year. Dar Al-Handasah (commonly known as DAR) has been a key player in the design, engineering, and project management aspects, and the company will be a platinum sponsor of the event, meeting supply chain, and discussing the development on stage.

Other airports from across Africa will be on stage to address infrastructure issues that have dogged the projected growth. And this year security – at airports, and in the sky – comes under the spotlight.

This year’s Aviation AFRICA sees an in-depth look at the advanced aviation mobility, with the collaboration of the African Drones Forum. It is hoped a flying example of an eVTOL will be on display, while Ethiopian Airlines will be explaining more about its ambition to build an air taxi network in the region, Manufacturer Archer is planning to provide Ethiopian Airlines with a team of pilots, technicians, and engineers to support the initial deployment of early launch edition Midnight aircraft in Ethiopia.

While regulators like the RCAA have already introduced guidelines for the newest of aviation models, the regulators will be on show with AFCAC secretary general Adefunke Adeyemi, a panel of civil aviation DGs, and other industry specialists from ATM to look at some of the issues – including unblocking barriers to the SAATM initiative to open Africa’s skies.

The Airline Association of Southern Africa (AASA) CEO Aaron Munetsi, will bring together a panel that spans the continent to address the geopolitical challenges – as well as the internal frustrations – that “Collaboration is a critical success factor in the airline industry,” Munetsi said. How that applies in today’s world will be a key point in his session hamper “the growth of aviation.

Safety, risk management, air traffic management, wildlife threats, sustainability and of course MRO will be offering great debate and with the partnerships and support from organisations like the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) and the African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA), the speakers will have a lot to offer with real issues being frankly debated.

Aircraft manufacturers Airbus, Boeing and Embraer predict strong growth in African air travel and will be at the event to give their insight.

“The Aviation Africa Summit has developed into the most forthright and broad event for Africa’s aviation industry. Networking is superb with a lot of opportunities for suppliers to meet with customers and authorities,” said Summit chairman Alan Peaford.

Aviation AFRICA is organised by TIMES Aerospace Events, having already organised eight previous editions in the United Arab Emirates, Rwanda, Egypt, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and South Africa.

The event, hosted by Kenya Airways, will focus on the need to modernise operations, invest in workforce development, and strengthen coordination and collaboration to improve performance.

“Ground handling is critical for the safety, efficiency and resilience of the entire aviation industry. The key word we will focus on at this year’s IGHC is “elevate”. We’ll be looking for ways to drive better performance in the ground handling sector. That means modernising operations, investing in the workforce, and strengthening coordination and collaboration so that ground handling can support growth even more efficiently,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general.

Speakers and Sessions

The President of the Republic of Kenya, Dr. William Samoei Ruto, IATA’s Director General, Willie Walsh, and the Chief Executive Officer of Kenya Airways, Allan Kilavuka will be among the keynote speakers at the event.

The conference will feature plenary sessions, specialised tracks and workshops, addressing:

Ground Operations: The reliability of Ground Support Equipment (GSE), the transition to hydrogen-powered GSE, the benefits of harmonised training, and key safety focus areas for ground personnel.

Baggage Operations: For the first time, a dedicated session will cover real-time baggage tracking, the transition to modern messaging standards, and the shift to electronic bag tags.

Collaboration and Innovation: Discussions will explore airport–ground handler collaboration, provide insights into privatisation, and examine upcoming ground handling regulations.

Focus on Africa

In recognition of the critical role that ground operations play across Africa’s growing aviation sector, Dr. William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya will attend the conference and has extended invitations to regulators and aviation authorities from across the continent.

“Aviation opens a world of economic and social development opportunities, and aviation’s greatest potential is to make a real difference to the prosperity of people in Africa. Welcoming and supporting the IGHC in Kenya is an example of the importance that Kenya places on the aviation sector and the expectations that we have for it as a sector leading development in Kenya and across the continent,” said Dr. William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya.

Hosting IGHC 2025 in Nairobi underscores IATA’s commitment to supporting aviation growth in Africa, in line with its broader efforts under the Focus Africa initiative.

“As Africa’s aviation leader, Kenya Airways is honored to pioneer this landmark event. Hosting IGHC aligns with our mission to drive innovation, foster partnerships, and showcase Africa’s readiness to shape the future of global air travel. Hosting IGHC 2025 in Kenya reaffirms our commitment to advancing the industry—both domestically and continentally—to unlock prosperity and connectivity,” said Allan Kilavuka, CEO of Kenya Airways.