Keypoints:
- Business aviation drives trade and health access
- Africa leads in modern aircraft and drone use
- AfBAA launches new RPAS and AAM committee
AFRICAN skies are no longer a luxury playground for the wealthy but a critical engine of economic and social development, according to Dawit Lemma, chair of the African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA) and CEO of Addis Ababa-based Krimson Aviation. Speaking at the Aviation Africa 2025 Summit and Exhibition in Rwanda’s capital early September, Lemma called Kigali ‘a symbol of African innovation and resilience’ as he reframed how business aviation is defined across the continent.
Beyond corporate jets
Referencing the US Federal Aviation Administration’s description of business aviation as the ‘use of an aircraft as a business tool to save time’, Lemma emphasised the word ‘aircraft’ rather than the stereotype of Gulfstream or Bombardier jets. He noted that in Africa, business aviation encompasses a range of practical uses far beyond transporting chief executives.
Examples include Nairobi’s Wilson Airport, where Cessna Caravans switch between scheduled services, charter flights and medevac missions. Farmers fly Cessna 172s to reach markets, anti-poaching teams patrol conservation areas by helicopter, and humanitarian groups rely on drones for mapping, pipeline monitoring and delivering medical supplies. Rwanda’s Zipline service, which delivers blood and medicines to rural communities, is a case in point.
‘These are not luxuries,’ Lemma told delegates. ‘This is business aviation as an enabler of development.’
Modern fleet and global standing
Long viewed as a dumping ground for ageing aircraft, Africa now leads globally in the share of new or nearly new pre-owned aircraft entering service, Lemma said. Fleet distribution places Africa on a par with South America and Asia, and unlike those regions, African nations form a cluster of rapidly expanding markets.
‘It’s clear,’ Lemma stressed. ‘The world can no longer afford to ignore African skies.’
Economic and social lifeline
Lemma underscored the sector’s economic and humanitarian role: ‘Whether it’s a farmer connecting with markets, a doctor accessing a remote village or a drone delivering vital supplies, business aviation is not a luxury; it is an economic driver, a force for good.’
Each flight, he argued, represents opportunities for commerce, healthcare and security, reinforcing that business aviation supports national development rather than serving the elite.
Embracing drones and air mobility
Looking to the future, Lemma announced AfBAA’s new committee dedicated to Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). Rwanda, home to Zipline and host of the African Drone Forum and Africa’s first electric air taxi flight with EHang, offered the perfect stage for the announcement.
‘Our lack of traditional transport infrastructure, combined with vast distances, makes UAVs a natural solution,’ he said. ‘Just as Africa leapfrogged landlines and desktops for mobile technology, we will leapfrog into the skies.’
Amplifying AfBAA’s role
Appointed AfBAA chair in May, Lemma said his mission is to ‘amplify the industry’s voice, foster collaboration and address structural challenges’. His priorities include strengthening safety culture, harmonising regulations and expanding training, while engaging new entrants such as UAV and AAM operators.
He concluded with a call to action: ‘Let us shift the paradigm. In Africa, business aviation is not optional – it is essential.’
