Leadership Dialogue: Regional Integration and the Future Skies of Africa

Regional economic integration is a central theme for Africa’s development. It promises larger, more connected markets, improved access for landlocked countries, and stronger intra-African trade. At the heart of this transformation lies the aviation sector—with Air Traffic Management (ATM) as a key enabler.

To realise this potential, the ATM community must support a seamless, harmonised airspace—one that reflects Africa’s ambitions for connectivity, innovation, and growth. Achieving this requires visionary leadership, strategic collaboration, and bold decision-making at the regional level.
This high-level dialogue will explore:

• How regional leaders can drive the implementation of the CATS CONOPS to shape Africa’s skies of the future;
• What it will take to integrate the work of various stakeholders into a cohesive vision;
• Whether Africa should define its own sub-regional roadmap to complement global efforts—and if so, how to develop it without losing alignment with ICAO frameworks and the CATS Global Council Vision 2045;

And what lessons can be drawn from other regions that have successfully

• Aligned national and regional strategies with global initiatives.
This session will provide a platform for candid exchange among senior decision-makers, aimed at catalysing a coordinated, Africa-driven approach to airspace modernisation and integration.