AviaDev Africa Moves to Zambia for 2027 Edition

Zambia Airports Corporation Limited (ZACL), will host Africa’s premier aviation connectivity conference as the country launches an ambitious Air Access Initiative and targets three million international visitors.

AviaDev Africa, the continent’s only dedicated air service development conference, today confirmed that Zambia will host AviaDev Africa 2027, with ZACL serving as the official host partner.

The announcement marks a landmark moment for Zambia’s aviation sector, coinciding with the launch of a bold new Air Access Initiative - Airlift Zambia, designed to transform the country into a leading regional connectivity hub.

AviaDev Africa brings together airlines, airports, tourism authorities, government officials and aviation service providers in a focused forum for route development, air service negotiation and connectivity strategy.

Previous editions have been held in Windhoek (2024), Zanzibar (2025) and Botswana (2026). Zambia’s selection as the 2027 host underscores the country’s rising profile as one of Southern Africa’s most dynamic aviation markets.

Central to Zambia’s bid is the launch of a comprehensive Airlift Zambia initiative, designed to close critical connectivity gaps, attract new international carriers, and unlock direct long-haul routes to Europe, the Gulf, Asia and North America.

ZACL has already made significant progress, with airlines including Qatar Airways, Uganda Airlines, Fastjet Zimbabwe, and, most recently, Eswatini Air commencing operations into Zambia.

Proflight Zambia has also expanded its regional footprint with new services linking Lusaka and Livingstone with Windhoek, Namibia and Gaborone, Botswana creating cross-border connections that are opening new tourism and trade corridors across Southern Africa.