Kenya’s National Carrier, Kenya Airways (KQ), will, from Tuesday, May 13, host the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Ground Handling Conference in Nairobi, which will be happening in Africa for the first time. The three-day event happening in Nairobi will end on Thursday, May 15. The conference underscores Africa’s rising prominence in global aviation and KQ’s pivotal role in driving aviation innovation and development across Africa.
“As Africa’s aviation leader, Kenya Airways is honored to pioneer this landmark event. Hosting IGHC in Kenya aligns with our mission to drive innovation, foster partnerships, and showcase Africa’s readiness to shape the future of global air travel. It also reaffirms our commitment to advancing the industry—both domestically and continentally—to unlock prosperity and connectivity,” said Kenya Airways CEO Allan Kilavuka in a press statement seen by TUKO.co.ke on Thursday, April 3 ahead of the event. “Ground handling is critical for the safety, efficiency and resilience of the entire aviation industry. The key word we will focus on at this year’s IGHC is ‘elevate’. We’ll be looking for ways to drive better performance in the ground handling sector,” said IATA director general Willie Walsh in a separate press release which was seen by this publication.
Kilavuka said the conference by Kenya Airways, which posted a net profit of KSh 5.4 billion in the financial year ended 2024, will focus on modernising operations, workforce development, and enhanced collaboration to elevate performance across the aviation sector.
Key speakers at the event, Kilavuka said, will include President William Ruto, IATA Director General Walsh, KQ top management team, among other senior dignitaries. The conference will provide an opportunity for speakers to discuss topics such as innovations in ground support equipment (GSE), hydrogen-powered GSE adoption, and harmonised safety training. They will also discuss breakthroughs in real-time baggage tracking, electronic bag tags, and modern messaging standards. Other topics will include strategies for public-private partnerships, regulatory advancements, and airport-handler synergy.
“The conference also advances IATA’s Focus Africa initiative, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable aviation growth across the continent,” said Walsh in a separate press statement released on Wednesday, April 2 from Geneva.
