Published on April 6, 2025 by Agencies for Kenya Online News
Last Updated on 1 year by Agencies for Kenya Online News
Kenya Airways (KQ), Africa’s leading airline and Kenya’s national carrier, is set to host the prestigious 37th IATA Ground Handling Conference (IGHC) in Nairobi, Kenya, marking a historic first for the African continent.
Taking place in Nairobi, Kenya, from 13 to 15 May 2025, the conference underscores Africa’s rising prominence in global aviation and Kenya’s leadership as a regional hub and KQ’s pivotal role in driving aviation innovation and development across Africa.
The conference will focus on modernizing operations, workforce development, and enhanced collaboration to elevate performance across the aviation sector, and will feature addresses by: H.E. Dr. William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya; Willie Walsh, IATA Director General; and Allan Kilavuka, Group Managing Director & CEO, Kenya Airways.
Speaking ahead of the event, Allan Kilavuka, Kenya Airways MD & CEO, stated, “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.”
Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, on the other hand, added that, “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.” “That means modernizing operations, investing in the workforce, and strengthening coordination and collaboration so that ground handling can support growth even more efficiently,” Walsh further highlighted.
Conference delegates will have an opportunity to enrich their knowledge on topics such as:
Ground Operations: Innovations in ground support equipment (GSE), hydrogen-powered GSE adoption, and harmonized safety training.
Baggage Operations: Breakthroughs in real-time tracking, electronic bag tags, and modern messaging standards.
Collaboration & Innovation: 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.
