Press Release: CANSO Africa Conference 2026 to chart practical pathways for Africa’s skies

Nairobi, Kenya, 14 October 2026 – The CANSO Africa Conference 2026 officially opens today at the Argyle Grand Hotel Nairobi Airport in Nairobi, Kenya, bringing together air navigation service providers (ANSPs), regulators, airspace users and industry partners from across the region to focus on turning Africa’s air traffic management (ATM) ambitions into action. Running from 13–15 October, the conference explores how Africa can prioritise, sequence and scale the investments needed to modernise its airspace.

Themed “Practical Implementation Pathways – ATM Transformation and the ANSP Changing Landscape,” the conference comes as Africa advances the implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), making modern, resilient and interoperable airspace more critical than ever. Discussions will focus on defining the minimum but critical capabilities needed to serve all airspace users, and on the role every stakeholder plays as the region scales up.

“Africa doesn’t need more vision documents, it needs clear priorities and a realistic path to deliver them,” said Thabani Myeza, CANSO Director Africa Affairs. “The CANSO Africa Conference 2026 is about agreeing on those priorities together and making sure our skies are ready to support the growth SAATM will bring.”

“Transformation only works when it is practical, collaborative and driven by the region itself,” added Andrea Sack, CANSO Senior Vice President Global Operations. “Nairobi gives us the chance to connect Africa’s priorities with global initiatives and to make sure no one is left behind as we modernise.”

Over three days, participants will:

• Shape Africa’s contribution to the ICAO Minimum Implementation Path and turn regional priorities into implementation.
• Explore practical pathways towards ATM transformation and modernisation.
• Examine how to make air traffic flow management (ATFM) a reality in Africa by 2030, building on the Mombasa ATFM Roadmap.
• Discuss how unmanned traffic management (UTM) can unlock Africa’s low-level economy.
• Strengthen safety and human performance culture, including through safety culture benchmarking and leadership in mental health and wellbeing.
• Enhance regional operational collaboration through the CANSO Operational Messaging Platform for ATFM Sharing and Synchronisation (COMPASS) workshop. COMPASS is a collaborative operational platform designed to enhance regional operational awareness, cross-border coordination, information sharing, and collaborative decision-making during both routine and disrupted operations.
• Hear from the next generation of aviation professionals on their personal journeys and the future of the profession.