11-13 June 2025
Golden Tulip Zanzibar Airport, Zanzibar Tanzania
AviaDev 2025 agenda
Wednesday 11 June
08:00 - 09:00
Registration and Refreshments
09:00 - 09:10
Welcome Remarks
Jon Howell
CEO and Founder
AviaDev
09:10 - 09:40
If you build it, they will come: Engaging stakeholders to improve air connectivity
Tim Harris
Partner
Helm Growth Advisors
09:40 - 10:00
Zanzibar's tourism and connectivity objectives
Arif Abbas Manji
Executive Secretary
Zanzibar Commission for Tourism
10:00 - 10:30
Pitch Perfect: How to approach airlines with a winning business case
Tim Harris
Partner
Helm Growth Advisors
10:30 - 11:30
The power of partnership: How airports, destinations and airlines collaborate to grow connectivity
Moderated by:
Francis Doku
CEO
Maestro Africa Group
In conversation with:
Keira Langford-Johnson
Business Development Director
Proflight Zambia
Minosoa Tatamo Rakotozafy
Head of Aeronautical Activities
Ravinala Airports
Abeiku Santana
Deputy Chief Executive Officer
Ghana Tourism Authority
11:30 - 12:30
Moving the needle: Driving policy change to improve air access
Moderated by:
Natalia Rosa
Tourism Project Lead
SADC Business Council
In conversation with:
Hafsa H. Mbamba
Tourism Delivery Manager
Zanzibar Presidential Delivery Bureau (ZPDB)
Rashid Toefy
Deputy Director General for Economic Development and Tourism
Western Cape Government
12:30 - 12:45
Day One Wrap Up
Jon Howell
CEO and Founder
AviaDev
12:45 - 14:00
Networking Lunch
16:30 - 17:30
Stone Town Tour
Join a walking tour around Stone Town
17:30 - 20:30
Welcome Reception
Networking Reception at The Beach House, Stone Town
Thursday 12 June
08:00 - 09:00
Registration and Refreshments
08:45 - 09:00
Welcome to AviaDev 2025
Jon Howell
CEO and Founder
AviaDev
09:00 - 09:30
Welcome to Zanzibar
09:30 - 10:00
Macro Economic Keynote
Daniel Silke
Political Economy Analyst & Futurist
Political Futures Consultancy
10:00 - 11:00
Flightpath to growth: Rethinking ownership, market access and unlocking capital for African airlines
Moderated by:
Hilka Birns
Aviation Journalist
ch-aviation
In conversation with
Munawer Dhirani
CEO
Flightlink
Julian Edmunds
Group Strategy & Development Director
Fastjet
Mesfin Tasew
Group Chief Executive Officer
Ethiopian Airlines
Peter Ulanga
Managing Director & CEO
Air Tanzania
11:00 - 11:20
Regional connectivity opportunities presented by Embraer
Theo Wensink
Head of Marketing – MEA, Senior Director Airline Marketing
Embraer Commercial Aviation
11:20 - 12:05
AI: Friend or foe? Can AI revolutionise commercial performance in African aviation?
Moderated by:
Refilwe Ledwaba
Pilot, Founder, and Instructional Designer
.
In conversation with:
Hassan Aurag
Brand Ambassador
Hitit
Martin Gitonga
General Manager Digital, Brand and Marketing
Kenya Airways
Bharat Kumar
Senior Vice President - Airline Passenger Solutions Practice
Revenue Technology Services (RTS)
Judy Waruiru
Regional Managing Director
Network International
12:05 - 12:15
Complex Flight Plan: Navigating connectivity amid conflict and risk
Tatenda Karuwa
Account Executive
Solus Insurance Brokers
12:15 - 12:55
Beyond the headwinds: Navigating rising costs, finance hurdles and supply chain challenges for African airlines
Moderated by:
Tristan Brouard
AVP - Asset Management
ACC Aviation
In conversation with:
Abderahmane Berthe
Secretary General
African Airlines Association (AFRAA)
Miguel Carneiro
Chief Commercial Officer
TAAG – Angola Airlines
Linas Dovydenas
President – IMEA (India, Middle East, Africa)
Chapman Freeborn Global Aircraft Charter Specialist
Raphael Haddad
President
Jetcraft Commercial Limited
Richard Jacobs
Chief Commercial Officer
TrueNoord
12:55 - 13:00
Day Two Wrap Up
Jon Howell
CEO and Founder
AviaDev
13:00 - 14:00
Networking Lunch
14:00 - 18:00
One-to-One Route Development Meetings
18:00 - 22:00
Gala Reception
At Sea Cliff Resort & Spa
Friday 13 June
07:00 - 08:00
AviaDev Morning Run around Stone Town
08:00 - 09:00
Morning Refreshments and Networking
09:00 - 09:30
The future of travel
09:30 - 10:15
Sweating the assets: Maximising efficiency in airline network planning
Moderated by:
Sean Mendis
Director
SeanMendis.com
In conversation with:
Rupert Kraus
Network & Partnerships
EW Discover GmbH
Keira Langford-Johnson
Business Development Director
Proflight Zambia
Karanja Ndegwa
Managing Director & CEO
Jambojet
Adedayo Olawuyi
Chief Commercial Officer
Uganda Airlines
Tebogo Tsimane
Interim Chief Commercial Officer
South African Airways (SAA)
10:15 - 10:40
Exploring the horizons: Unserved air routes to, from and within Africa
Geert Lemaire
Market Intelligence and Consulting Director
Airbus
10:40 - 10:50
Charity Presentation: Karume Institute of Science and Technology (KIST)
Dr. Mahmoud Abdulwahab Alawi
Principal
Karume Institute of Science and Technology (KIST)
10:50 - 11:00
Introducing the CareStore by Rolls-Royce
Jason Sutcliffe
Marketing Director – Middle East, Africa & Central Asia
Rolls Royce
11:00 - 11:45
Maximising non-aeronautical revenue: Balancing revenue growth, efficiency and customer service experience in Africa's airports
Moderated by:
Jody Appollis
Aviation Project Manager & Business Development Lead Sub-Saharan Africa
NACO Airport Consultants
In conversation with:
Namory Camara
Managing Director
SOGEAC
Murat Gun
Managing Director
ELR UAE and Travel Retail
Seif Juma
Director General
Zanzibar Airports Authority
Oliver Mathwich
COO - Global Airport Operations
Dnata
Dr Bao Rasebolai Mosinyi
Chief Executive Officer
Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana
11:45 - 12:00
The commercial benefits of preparing for the worst. Steps you can take to attain more favourable positioning in the insurance market
Michael Jonga
Director Africa
AI12
Denis Kulikov
Deputy CEO
AI12
12:00 - 12:10
Handover Ceremony 2026
12:10 - 12:30
Future Leaders
Moderated by:
Mahek Shah
Private Pilot and Licensed Drone Pilot
AviaDev Ambassador
AviaDev Ambassadors:
Is-Haka Harith Salim
AviaDev Ambassador
Marilyn John
AviaDev Ambassador
12:30 - 12:55
Ato Girma Wake Lifetime Achievement Award for an outstanding contribution to route development in Africa
Girma Wake
Industry Expert
AviaDev Patron
Joao Jorge
former Director General
LAM Mozambique
12:55 - 13:00
Closing Remarks
Jon Howell
CEO and Founder
AviaDev
13:00 - 14:00
Networking Lunch
14:00 - 18:00
One-to-One Route Development Meetings