Africa’s Business Aviation Shifts from Luxury to a Driver of Development

Business aviation in Africa is shedding its image as a playground for wealthy executives and is instead proving to be a powerful tool for economic growth, humanitarian aid and social development across the continent. 

That was the central message delivered by Dawit Lemma, Chairman of the African Business Aviation Association (AFBAA) and CEO of Krimson Aviation (Ethiopia), during his keynote speech at Aviation Africa 2025, held in Kigali on 4 September. 

“When the FAA defines business aviation as simply ‘using an aircraft as a business tool to save time,’ it opens the door to a broader reality here,” Lemma told delegates. 

Lemma highlighted Wilson Airport in Nairobi, Kenya, which many outside Africa might overlook. Despite its low profile, it is the second-busiest business aviation hub on the continent by aircraft movements. Operators there often run commuter flights during the week and switch to charter services on weekends, using rugged single-engine aircraft like the Cessna Caravan. 

“In many ways, the Caravan, not the Gulfstream or Bombardier, is the true backbone of African business aviation,” Lemma said. 

To illustrate, he shared examples ranging from farmers flying Cessna 172s to reach remote trading posts, to anti-poaching patrols scanning savannahs for endangered wildlife, and humanitarian missions delivering supplies to flood-stricken villages. Even drones, like those used in Rwanda’s Zipline project to deliver blood and medicine, fall within the spirit of business aviation. 

Africa’s skies, Lemma stressed, are often misunderstood. For years, the continent has been seen as a dumping ground for outdated aircraft. 

“That narrative is no longer true,” he countered. “Today, Africa is leading in aviation innovation, with one of the highest percentages of newer aircraft in service anywhere in the world. Around 25% of commercial aircraft flying here are next-generation models, a figure that matches, or even surpasses, many global regions.” 

Since stepping into his role as AFBAA chairman in May 2025, Lemma has focused on raising Africa’s voice in global aviation. The association works closely with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) to align African operators with international standards. 

“As Chairman, my role is to amplify the industry’s voice, foster collaboration and tackle structural challenges,” he said. His priorities include strengthening safety culture, harmonising regulations, expanding training programmes and making AFBAA a more inclusive platform. 

This inclusivity, he explained, means engaging not only traditional operators, regulators, and airports, but also emerging players in uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS), remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) and advanced air mobility (AAM). “We need to be ready for the future of African aviation,” Lemma said.