Opening Keynote: Setting the Scene – The Global Roadmap for Future Skies

This keynote session will provide a strategic overview of the CATS Global Council’s Vision 2045 and the Complete Air Traffic System (CATS) CONOPS, highlighting how these global initiatives align with ICAO strategies and AFI regional plans.

The address will reflect on the journey so far—what the industry set out to achieve, why it matters, and how collaborative efforts across the sector are shaping the skies of tomorrow. It will unpack how the CATS CONOPS is being developed and embraced by the industry globally, and how Africa can actively contribute to and benefit from this transformation.
Key messages will focus on:

• The importance of aligning past, present, and future planning;
• How Africa can forge its unique path while remaining harmonised with global developments;
• The need for integration between existing AFI initiatives and the Global Council’s vision;
• And the lessons Africa can draw from international experiences and cross-regional collaboration.

This session sets the tone for the rest of the conference—inviting reflection, ambition, and shared commitment to a seamless and future-ready African airspace.