Visitors learn about products from a Chinese drone company at the 10th Aviation Africa Summit and Exhibition in Nairobi, Kenya, Sept. 9, 2026. The 10th Aviation Africa Summit and Exhibition, held Wednesday and Thursday in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, brought together about 2,500 delegates from more than 100 countries, including representatives from 135 airlines and aviation operators. (Xinhua/Yang Guang)

NAIROBI, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- African aviation leaders and policymakers on Wednesday called for deeper regional civil aviation cooperation and faster implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) to boost intra-continental connectivity and unlock economic growth.

The 10th Aviation Africa Summit and Exhibition, held Wednesday and Thursday in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, brought together about 2,500 delegates from more than 100 countries, including representatives from 135 airlines and aviation operators.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Musalia Mudavadi, Kenya's prime cabinet secretary and cabinet secretary for foreign and diaspora affairs, called on African countries to establish a unified airspace to drive trade, tourism, and investment under the African Continental Free Trade Area.

"Aviation is not just a means of transportation. It is an enabler of trade, tourism, investment, healthcare, education, humanitarian assistance and cultural exchange," Mudavadi said.

He noted that SAATM, a flagship initiative under the African Union's Agenda 2063, remains a viable way to remove restrictive barriers, expand route networks, drive competition, and lower travel costs across the region.

AdeSewa Adeyemi, secretary general of the African Civil Aviation Commission, urged civil aviation authorities across the continent to fast-track regulatory harmonization and the mutual recognition of safety standards.

Adeyemi said eliminating market access restrictions and aligning regulatory frameworks are critical to turning the SAATM vision into reality for the continent's carriers.

Abderahmane Berthe, secretary general of the African Airlines Association, noted that structural bottlenecks, including high fuel taxes, currency volatility, and restrictive bilateral air service agreements, continue to weigh heavily on airline profitability and regional expansion.

Berthe stressed that deeper collaboration between governments and industry stakeholders is urgently required to build a competitive and resilient African aviation ecosystem. ■

Musalia Mudavadi, Kenya's prime cabinet secretary and cabinet secretary for foreign and diaspora affairs, addresses the opening ceremony of the 10th Aviation Africa Summit and Exhibition in Nairobi, Kenya, Sept. 9, 2026. The 10th Aviation Africa Summit and Exhibition, held Wednesday and Thursday in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, brought together about 2,500 delegates from more than 100 countries, including representatives from 135 airlines and aviation operators. (Xinhua/Yang Guang)

Visitors view an aircraft engine at the 10th Aviation Africa Summit and Exhibition in Nairobi, Kenya, Sept. 9, 2026. The 10th Aviation Africa Summit and Exhibition, held Wednesday and Thursday in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, brought together about 2,500 delegates from more than 100 countries, including representatives from 135 airlines and aviation operators. (Xinhua/Yang Guang)

An exhibitor explains airline operations to students at the 10th Aviation Africa Summit and Exhibition in Nairobi, Kenya, Sept. 9, 2026. The 10th Aviation Africa Summit and Exhibition, held Wednesday and Thursday in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, brought together about 2,500 delegates from more than 100 countries, including representatives from 135 airlines and aviation operators. (Xinhua/Yang Guang)