Johannesburg will host the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Wings of Change Focus Africa Conference (WOCFA) in July.

IATA’s Wings of Change Focus Africa Conference (WOCFA) will return for its second edition under the theme ‘Towards a More Resilient and Sustainable African Aviation’.
AFRICAN AVIATION: HUGE POTENTIAL
Africa, with its growing young population, opens up opportunities for aviation on the continent.
Not only does this present employment opportunities but it increases economic activity on the continent.
IATA states that Africa is a region with huge potential for growth.
While the continent accounts for 18% of the global population, it only contributes approximately 2.1% of global air traffic.
“Africa’s aviation market holds immense untapped potential, with expectations for traffic to double in the next 15 years. The Focus Africa Initiative has identified key priorities that, if addressed collaboratively and effectively, will bolster Africa’s aviation industry and enhance its socio-economic impact.” said Kamil Alawadhi, IATA’s Regional Vice-President for Africa and the Middle East.
Over 260 million passengers are expected to travel to and from the continent by 2035.
CHALLENGES IN AFRICAN AVIATION
That said, several challenges remain and need to be addressed for aviation to become more resilient and sustainable on the continent.
Various topics are up for discussion at WOCFA.
The conference will deliberate priorities under IATA’s Focus Africa initiative to strengthen aviation’s contribution to the continent’s economic and social development, along with improving connectivity, safety and reliability for passengers and shippers.
“A year into the Focus Africa Initiative, we have seen progress in areas such as safety, but there is still a long way to go. This year’s IATA’s Wings of Change Focus Africa Conference builds on this progress by addressing critical areas such as safety, security, sustainability, economic development, and the overall resilience of the industry,” said Kamil Alawadhi, IATA’s Regional Vice-President for Africa and the Middle East.
South African Airways’ Professor John Lamola and Mr Alawadhi will be joined by industry leaders from various areas of aviation.
They seek to address various topics at the event, including sessions covering topics such as:
- Safety
- Security
- Boosting Regional Traffic
- Airport Infrastructure
- Modern Airline Retailing
- Sustainability with a focus on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
- Air Cargo
- Skills and training
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WINGS OF CHANGE CONFERENCE JOHANNESBURG
WOCFA is taking place in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 2-3 July 2024 with South African Airways as the host airline.
Professor John Lamola, Chief Executive Officer of South African Airways will deliver an opening keynote address.
“We are delighted to host IATA’s Wings of Change Focus Africa Conference and welcome the aviation industry to our home, Johannesburg. Advancing the air transport industry is critical for Africa’s economic growth. The conference will allow industry leaders to join forces and drive the agenda for a stronger, more resilient African aviation industry,” said Prof. Lamola.