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Opening the summit, Rwandan President Paul Kagame said that the high cost of air travel remains a barrier to tourism and connectivity across Africa. Noting that Africa’s skies need to be opened up more effectively to serve citizens, businesses, and the broader economy, Kagame urged governments and industry leaders to collaborate to make aviation more affordable and sustainable.
Chinese technologies shone at the ninth edition of the Aviation Africa Summit and Exhibition, held recently in Kigali, Rwanda’s capital, with the theme: “Collaborating to unlock Africa’s growth – How can Africa deliver a sustainable aviation industry?”.
The event attracted 1,700 aviation industry professionals who engaged in in-depth discussions on challenges facing the African aviation industry and the new opportunities brought about by technologies, as well as more than 100 companies that showcased their cutting-edge products.
Opening the summit, Rwandan President Paul Kagame said that the high cost of air travel remains a barrier to tourism and connectivity across Africa. Noting that Africa’s skies must be opened up to better serve citizens, businesses, and the wider economy, Kagame urged governments and industry leaders to collaborate to make aviation more affordable and sustainable.
The EH216-S, a groundbreaking pilotless passenger-carrying aerial vehicle produced by EHang, a world’s leading urban air mobility technology platform company from China, was the centerpiece of the exhibition. With the witness of the Rwandan president and Chinese representatives, the electric vertical take-off and land (eVTOL) aircraft made its maiden flight in Africa.
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Data shows that Africa accounts for approximately 17 percent of the world’s population, yet its share of global air transport volume is less than five percent. This gap highlights the significant potential for low-altitude economic development in Africa and the pressing issues that require attention.
