The upcoming Aviation Africa 2025 Summit in Kigali will spotlight Rwanda’s aviation renaissance, from drone innovation to mega-infrastructure projects.
A highlight will be the Advanced Air Mobility symposium, co-hosted with the African Drone Forum, where Rwanda’s success with Zipline drones, which have completed over 1.4 million deliveries and reduced blood delivery times from two hours to 41 minutes, will be showcased as a continental model.
Another key theme at the Kigali summit is airline restructuring. Aviation veterans James Hogan and James Rigney will share lessons from their work turning around LAM Mozambique Airlines, insights that resonate across African carriers seeking modernization.
Meanwhile, Rwanda’s own ambitions are bold. The country’s national carrier RwandAir plans to double passenger numbers in the next five years, supported by the construction of Bugesera International Airport, a $2 billion project with Qatar Airways that will handle 7 million passengers initially, rising to 14 million by 2032.
Coupled with a CAAi–RCAA partnership on training and research, Rwanda is building the skills and infrastructure for the future.
With the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) also convening in Kigali during the summit, Rwanda is emerging as a continental hub for policy, training, and innovation, cementing its role in shaping Africa’s skies.
