11-13 June 2025
Golden Tulip Zanzibar Airport, Zanzibar Tanzania
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:
Kojo Bentum-Williams
Senior Expert, Communications in Africa
UN Tourism
In conversation with:
Keira Langford-Johnson
Business Development Director
Proflight Zambia
Minosoa Tatamo Rakotozafy
Head of Aeronautical Activities
Ravinala Airports
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)
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
09:00 - 09:10
Welcome to AviaDev 2025
Jon Howell
CEO and Founder
AviaDev
09:10 - 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
Lulu Rasebotsa
General Manager
Air Botswana
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
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
12:05 - 12:15
Complex Flight Plan: Navigating connectivity amid conflict and risk
Tatenda Karuwa
Aviation Journalist
Simple Flying
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
Head of Network Planning and Alliances
Kenya Airways
Bharat Kumar
Senior Vice President - Airline Passenger Solutions Practice
Revenue Technology Services (RTS)
12:45 - 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
Director Network & Airport Relations
EW Discover GmbH
Keira Langford-Johnson
Business Development Director
Proflight Zambia
Karanja Ndegwa
Managing Director & CEO
Jambojet
Tebogo Tsimane
Interim Chief Commercial Officer
South African Airways (SAA)
10:15 - 10:45
Exploring the horizons: Unserved air routes to, from and within Africa
Geert Lemaire
Market Intelligence and Consulting Director
Airbus
10:45 - 10:55
Charity Presentation: Karume Institute of Science and Technology (KIST)
10:55 - 11:45
Maximising non-aeronautical revenue: Balancing revenue growth, efficiency and customer service experience in Africa's airports
Moderated by:
In conversation with:
Namory Camara
Managing Director
SOGEAC
Murat Gun
Managing Director
ELR UAE and Travel Retail
Seif Juma
Director General
Zanzibar Airports Authority
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
12:00 - 12:10
Handover Ceremony 2026
12:10 - 12:30
Future Leaders
Moderated by:
Refilwe Ledwaba
Pilot, Founder, and Instructional Designer
.
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