The bustling city of Lomé is set to take center stage in African aviation history when it hosts the African Air Transport Convention and Exhibition from June 15 to 19, 2026. This landmark event, dedicated to shaping the future of the continent’s aviation sector, has been outlined by the Civil Aviation Commission for Africa (CAFAC), which also revealed the key figures and themes driving the conference.

Under the patronage of Togolese President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé and in collaboration with the African Union Commission, this high-profile gathering aims to fast-track the implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) while fostering deeper integration across the aviation industry.

More than 500 delegates are expected to converge on Lomé, including government officials, aviation regulators, airline executives, airport managers, investors, development institutions, and international partners.

Among the prominent attendees are Lerato Dorothy Mataboge, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy at the African Union; Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA); and Nardos Bekele-Thomas, CEO of the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD.

Representatives from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Airports Council International Africa (ACI Africa), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Togolese government, and CAFAC will also contribute to the discussions.

The five-day agenda will focus on critical themes: strengthening the African air transport market, enhancing cargo and air corridor development, driving investments and infrastructure growth, embracing technological innovation, and forging strategic partnerships.

Key topics will include boosting intra-African connectivity, lowering air travel costs, funding airport expansions, digitalizing aviation operations, and accelerating the adoption of sustainable aviation fuels—all aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the AfCFTA’s objectives.

The summit is expected to yield tangible outcomes, including the adoption of the Lomé Ministerial Declaration, the launch of the African Air Routes Development Platform (ARDP), and the establishment of new cooperation and investment frameworks to build a more competitive and unified African aviation market.