Registration has opened for AeroWest 2026, a major aviation and tourism summit designed to drive investment, strengthen regional connectivity and accelerate sustainable growth across West and Central Africa.
The summit with the theme “Financing Connectivity: Unlocking Aviation and Tourism Growth in West and Central Africa,” will hold in Lagos from September 2 to 4, 2026. It is being organised by Jet Afrique Aviation Services Limited in collaboration with the West Africa Tourism Organisation (WATO).
Organisers say the event comes at a critical time for Africa’s aviation industry, following a series of policy, financing and regulatory milestones that have created fresh opportunities for investment and expansion across the region.
Among the developments is the African Development Bank’s 7-billion-dollar Integrated Aviation Transformation Programme (IATP), launched earlier this year to mobilise private investment in Africa’s aviation sector.
The programme is expected to support infrastructure development, fleet expansion and improved regional connectivity.
The organisers also cited Nigeria’s 91.45 per cent score in the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s Effective Implementation audit, the country’s highest ever safety compliance rating and well above the global average of 70.4 per cent, describing it as a significant boost to investor confidence.
According to industry projections, Africa’s air transport market is expected to grow to about 411 million passengers by 2044, while full implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) could generate about 268,000 tourism-related jobs and reduce intra-African airfares by as much as 35 per cent.
Despite the growth prospects, organisers noted that challenges such as the 774 million dollars in blocked airline funds across Africa continue to constrain the sector, making stronger financing mechanisms and regional cooperation increasingly important.
Chief Executive Officer of Jet Afrique Aviation Services Limited, Theodore Chikelu, said AeroWest 2026 is designed to move the industry beyond discussions to tangible investments and partnerships capable of unlocking more than 25 billion dollars in aviation infrastructure and fleet development opportunities across the region.
Chief Executive Officer of WATO, Ola Wright, said the summit aligns with the organisation’s West Africa Integrated Travel (WAIT) initiative, stressing that stronger air connectivity remains essential to expanding tourism and regional economic integration.
The summit will feature high-level policy discussions, investment forums, business-to-business meetings and exhibitions covering aviation finance, aircraft leasing, airport infrastructure, fleet modernisation, maintenance, regulatory harmonisation, sustainable aviation, tourism development, insurance, risk management and implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Decision-makers from more than 25 countries, including airlines, airport operators, aircraft manufacturers, financiers, regulators and tourism organisations, are expected to participate in the event aimed at translating Africa’s aviation and tourism potential into concrete investments and stronger regional connectivity.