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African Airlines To Chart Course For $800B Industry At Dubai Conference

African Airlines To Chart Course For $800B Industry At Dubai Conference

Africa’s aviation experts are set to chart course for the continent’s $800 billion market at the first-ever industry conference in Dubai on May 10, the event organizers said in a statement.

The two-day ‘Aviation Africa 2015′ that will take place at Le Meridien Hotel, Dubai in a week’s time, will bring together leading industry stakeholders including airlines’ executives, transport ministers and other authorities to discuss ways of growing the airlines business in Africa.

According to International Air Transport Association (IATA), the aviation industry in Africa provides jobs to nearly 7 million people across nations and has a potential to provide 155,000 more jobs annually, which will add $1.3 billion on the continent’s GDP, if just 12 countries liberalize their markets.

“If you look at the sheer potential of just a handful of African airlines, routes and airports, you realize just how enormous an impact Africa can have on the future of aviation, and moreover you can clearly see just how beneficial a progressive aviation industry can be for the socio-economic future of the continent,” Alan Peaford, event organizer and summit Chairman, said in a statement.

“Geographically, it’s ideally located right next to well-established hubs in the Gulf, and is able to capitalize on the passenger and cargo traffic already streaming through the region.”

The event will also seek to bring closer Africa and the Middle East aviation industries and share ideas on ways to grow the business in both regions.

Among the speakers will be Ghana’s Transport Minister Dzifa Attivor, RwandAir chairman Girma Wake and Ed Winter, CEO of Fastjet.

The event also features an exhibition with Over 40 companies including Boeing, Jeppesen, African Open Sky, Ethiopian Airlines and Astral Aviation, will be featured at an exhibition at the event.

“It’s really exciting to see some of the new and smaller carriers represented at the event. There is a great hunger for the knowledge that will get this growth challenge right.”