The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released the latest data on global passenger demand for March 2024, indicating a remarkable surge in travel activity. The report highlights the following key findings:

Passenger demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs), soared by an impressive 13.8% in March 2024 compared to the same period last year. This substantial growth is a testament to the increasing appetite for air travel worldwide.

In tandem with rising demand, total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), witnessed a substantial 12.3% year-on-year increase. This expansion in capacity has been instrumental in accommodating the growing number of passengers seeking to fly.

The load factor, a crucial indicator of airline efficiency, reached 82.0% in March 2024, marking a notable improvement of 1.0 percentage point compared to March 2023. The higher load factor signifies a more optimal utilization of available seats and reflects the industry’s efforts to enhance operational efficiency.

Dubai has launched a blueprint for Artificial Intelligence (AI), a yearly plan that will focus on harnessing the technology’s potential to improve quality of life around the world.

The plan begins with the appointment of a CEO for AI in each government entity, and will be followed by the establishment of an AI and WEB3 Incubator, which will develop into the largest global hub for AI and technology companies. The hub will attract innovators, startups and AI leaders from around the world and support of development of their ideas into successful enterprises or real-world applications.

The plan also includes the introduction of AI Week into schools and colleges to help integrate AI applications into the educational system. This will enable students to develop skills that align with future market needs such as coding, and introduce them to the latest tools and best practices in this field.

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC), the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) and the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) hosted a webinar in Addis Ababa on April 28 to discuss the resilience of the African Civil Aviation Industry during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aviation is crucial for effective implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). However, strong collaboration among stakeholders of the aviation industry is essential to optimise the benefits of AfCFTA, said Robert Lisinge, Acting Director of the Private Sector Development and Finance Division of ECA.

The event assessed the effectiveness of strategies for the survival and recovery of the aviation industry initiated by various organisations during the COVID-19 pandemic. “It is crucial to undertake an in-depth review of strategies and policies initiated during the pandemic, to determine the extent to which they contributed to build the resilience of the aviation industry, and identify lessons learned from implementing the strategies” said Lisinge.

The Fourth Ordinary Session of the Specialised Technical Committee (STC) on Transport, Transcontinental and Interregional Infrastructure and Energy of the African Union was held in Zanzibar, Tanzania, in 2023.

Unilever Ethiopia announced the appointment of George Owusu -Ansah as its new General Manager, effective from April 1, 2024. George’s appointment to lead our Ethiopia business reflects his very impressive career track record in general management and a variety of roles. He has had previous career stints in Malawi, China, Singapore, Kenya, and Nigeria serving in different leadership roles.

George brings to Ethiopia a wealth of over 30 years’ experience in Supply Chain, Customer Development, Procurement and General Management. He is passionate about talent development, business growth and been a force for impacting the communities we serve positively.

“Accelerating growth in Ethiopia involves collaborating closely with our winning team on the ground. Additionally, nurturing young talent to manage not only the business within Ethiopia but compute globally will be my top priority,” remarked George.