The ACI Africa 2026 Annual General Assembly, Regional Conference and Exhibition concluded in Abuja on September 25 after a week of discussions on the future of Africa’s aviation industry, including airport efficiency, resilience, digital transformation and sustainable growth.
Hosted by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the 35th Airports Council International (ACI) Africa gathering ran from September 19 to 25 under the theme, “Next-Gen Airports: Driving Performance and Resilience.” More than 500 aviation stakeholders, including airport operators, policymakers, technology providers and industry experts from Africa and beyond, attended.
Key Highlights
- ACI Africa 2026 concluded in Abuja after a week-long conference.
- More than 500 aviation stakeholders attended.
- Discussions focused on airport performance, resilience, digitalisation and sustainability.
- ACI Africa Secretary-General Ali Tounsi said about 80 per cent of African airports are not financially efficient.
- Airports in Tanzania, Egypt and Kenya received recognition at the Passenger Facilitation and Readiness Excellence Awards.
- Nigeria hosted the ACI Africa gathering for the third time.
- Delegates called for greater attention to technology, human capital and financial sustainability.
Issues Facing African Airports
Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, formally opened the conference, which brought together leaders from ACI Africa member organisations and airport representatives from across the continent.
Discussions examined challengesing financial sustainability, infrastructure development, technology adoption, safety and security, passenger services and workforce development.
ACI Africa Secretary-General Ali Tounsi said about 80 per cent of African airports were not financially efficient, which could constrain investment in infrastructure, technology, safety, security and passenger services. He also pointed to changing airport environments, digitalisation and the effects of natural disasters as pressing concerns.
The programme included sessions on digital transformation, environmental sustainability, operational resilience, commercial strategies and improving the passenger experience. FAAN said the event was designed to generate practical approaches to airport performance and resilience.
Read the report on ACI Africa’s estimate of financial inefficiency across African airports.
ACI Africa Awards Recognise Airport Excellence
The programme featured the 76th ACI Africa Board and Committee Meetings, technical sessions, an industry exhibition and networking activities. A gala dinner included the ACI Africa Passenger Facilitation and Readiness Excellence Awards.
Kilimanjaro International Airport in Tanzania won the Stakeholder Integration category for airports handling fewer than two million passengers annually. Julius Nyerere International Airport, also in Tanzania, was runner-up in Governance and Innovation and Transformation for airports handling between two million and five million passengers.
Moi International Airport in Mombasa, Kenya, received three runner-up awards in Governance, Stakeholders Integration and Processes in the under-two-million-passenger category. Sphinx International Airport in Egypt won first place in the Governance category.
Trusted Training Partner Certificates were also presented to organisations supporting professional development in Africa’s aviation industry.
Conference Closes With Masterclass
The conference concluded with a Masterclass Training session intended to give delegates practical knowledge and insights to apply at their airports.
FAAN described Nigeria’s hosting of the conference as an opportunity to demonstrate the country’s commitment to collaboration, innovation and the development of African aviation. The authority also highlighted partnerships formed during the event and ideas generated for building more efficient, resilient and technology-driven airports.
As delegates departed Abuja, financial sustainability, digitalisation, environmental preparedness and human capital development remained central themes for the next generation of African airports.
The 2026 gathering reinforced ACI Africa’s role in representing the continent’s airport community and providing a platform for airport operators and aviation stakeholders to exchange ideas and develop solutions to shared challenges. FAAN’s event announcement set out the conference programme and theme.
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