AFRAA and the 4 Founding African MROs Launch Landmark African MRO Conference in Addis Ababa to Drive Sustainability in Aircraft Maintenance
The African Airlines Association (AFRAA), in partnership with the founding African Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) providers – Ethiopian MRO, EgyptAir Maintenance & Engineering, Kenya Airways MRO, and South African Airways Technical, supported by many other aviation stakeholders today officially opened the 1st African MRO Conference in Addis Ababa – Ethiopia.
Hosted by Ethiopian Airlines from 29 to 31 March 2026 at the Ethiopian Skylight Hotel, and held under the patronage of the Government of Ethiopia, the conference marks a major milestone in Africa’s journey towards building a resilient, competitive, and sustainable aviation maintenance ecosystem.
Held under the theme “Building Africa’s Sustainable MRO Ecosystem,” the event gathered over 450 registered high-level delegates from more than 50 countries, including airline executives, MRO leaders, OEMs, regulators, and technology providers, highlighting the increasing urgency and opportunity to transform Africa’s aviation maintenance landscape.
A Strategic Imperative for African Aviation
Despite the rapid growth in air transport across the continent, a significant share of aircraft maintenance for African airlines is performed outside Africa, resulting in billions of dollars in annual capital outflows, higher operational costs, and longer aircraft downtime.
The African MRO Conference aims to reverse this trend by creating a dedicated platform to:
• Strengthen regional MRO capacity and capabilities
• Enhance supply chain resilience and efficiency
• Develop Africa’s aviation technical workforce
• Accelerate the adoption of digital and predictive maintenance technologies
• Foster intra-African collaboration and partnerships
Speaking at the opening ceremony, AFRAA Secretary General Mr. Abderahmane Berthé emphasized: “Africa’s aviation future depends not only on expanding fleets and networks, but on building strong technical foundations. Developing a self-sufficient MRO ecosystem is essential to reducing costs, improving reliability, and retaining value within the continent.”
Commenting on the conference, Ethiopian Transport and Logistics State Minister, His Excellency Mr. Dhenge Boru said, “The Transport and Logistics Minister of Ethiopia is a strong advocate of such initiatives that bring together aviation professionals as we believe it is key to unlock our combined expertise and accelerate our success. By coming up together as one to this event, we maintain the collaborative effort to a speedy outcome for the betterment of the aviation sector in our continent and beyond.”
Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mr. Mesfin Tasew on his part said, “This conference holds great significance as it brings together Africa’s aviation leaders, regulators, manufacturers, and innovators under one roof. It provides a unique platform to transform our collective vision into tangible action. By working together, we are fostering collaboration to build a resilient and competitive African MRO network.”
Mr. Moosa Desai, Chairperson of the AFRAA MRO Steering Committee and Ag.CEO – South African Airways Technical stated: “This AFRAA-led MRO initiative seeks to strengthen and unify Africa’s MRO sector. By promoting collaboration, standardising procedures, and sharing expertise and capabilities across the continent, it lays a foundation for sustainable growth and enhances the global competitiveness of African MROs. This initiative is vital for skills development, supplier alignment, and long-term resilience in Africa’s aviation maintenance industry. Since SteerCo’s inception, engagement has increased, thereby expanding these efforts as we progress.”
From Dialogue to Deal-Making: The AFRAA B2B Marketplace
A central feature of the conference is the AFRAA MRO Marketplace, a structured B2B platform designed to translate discussions into concrete business results. Through pre-arranged one-on-one meetings, African airlines, MROs, and procurement teams are engaging directly with OEMs, global service providers, and technology companies to:
• Negotiate maintenance contracts
• Explore innovative technical solutions
• Optimize supply chain strategies
• Build long-term strategic partnerships
This results-driven approach positions the conference as more than a knowledge-sharing forum, but as a catalyst for real commercial and operational impact across Africa’s aviation value chain.
Addressing Africa’s MRO Challenges and Opportunities
Across plenary sessions, leadership panels, and technical masterclasses, delegates will address the most pressing issues shaping the sector, including:
• Supply chain constraints affecting aircraft availability and turnaround times
• High dependence on off-continent maintenance services
• Skills shortages and workforce retention challenges
• Regulatory fragmentation limiting cross-border MRO operations
• Digital transformation, including AI, big data, and predictive maintenance
• Sustainability and green maintenance practices within the MRO value chain
The conference also highlights the immense opportunity for Africa to:
• Create thousands of skilled technical jobs
• Retain billions of dollars within African economies
• Strengthen the aviation value chain
• Improve airline competitiveness and connectivity
A Call to Collaborate
The success of Africa’s MRO ecosystem will be driven by three critical pillars:
• Collaboration across airlines, MROs, OEMs, and regulators
• Technical talent development through training and skills investment
• Digital transformation to improve efficiency, reliability, and cost management
AFRAA reaffirmed its commitment to working with stakeholders across the aviation ecosystem to advance these priorities and unlock the full potential of Africa’s aviation sector.
About AFRAA
The African Airlines Association (AFRAA) is the leading trade association of African airlines. Founded in Accra, Ghana, in April 1968, and headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, AFRAA’s mission is to promote, serve African Airlines and champion Africa’s aviation industry. The Association envisions a sustainable, interconnected and affordable Air Transport industry in Africa where African Airlines become key players and drivers to African economic development. AFRAA membership cuts across the entire continent and includes all the major intercontinental African operators. The Association members represent over 85% of total international traffic carried by African airlines. Facebook, LinkedIn, X and YouTube.
About Ethiopian MRO
Ethiopian MRO is a world-class aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul provider with state-of-the-art facilities certified by ECAA, FAA, EASA, and other Civil Aviation Authorities across Africa and beyond. It handles all Ethiopian Airlines fleet maintenance and extends its services to various operators and airlines across Africa, the Middle East, and beyond. Ethiopian MRO delivers end-to-end solutions, including base, line, component, and engine maintenance, as well as engineering services, with high quality and safety standards. It also offers specialized capabilities such as calibration laboratory services, aircraft structure and composite maintenance, wire harness manufacturing, and modification and upgrading services, making it a one-stop shop for comprehensive MRO solutions. Recent achievements include full strip and paint programs for Airbus A350-900 and Boeing 787 fleets, and LEAP-1B PRSV1 capability.
About EGYPTAIR MAINTENANCE & ENGINEERING
EGYPTAIR MAINTENANCE & ENGINEERING is a leading MRO provider in the Middle East and Africa, delivering comprehensive services of line and heavy maintenance, along with aircraft component maintenance including mechanical components, avionics and engine maintenance. A subsidiary of EGYPTAIR Holding Company with a legacy dating back to 1932, the firm leverages state-of-the-art technology to sustain the airworthiness of diverse aircraft types and components.
Partnering with over 150 global airlines beyond the EGYPTAIR fleet, the company holds certifications from major international civil aviation authorities. It provides world-class solutions 24/7/365 to a vast clientele across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
To maintain its competitive edge, EGYPTAIR MAINTENANCE & ENGINEERING is actively expanding its regional line maintenance network and upgrading personnel expertise. Through strategic partnerships with renowned global organizations, the company continues to enhance its service scope and technical excellence, ensuring the longevity and safety of its clients’ valuable aviation assets.
About Kenya Airways Engineering & Maintenance (KQ MRO)
Kenya Airways Engineering & Maintenance (KQ MRO) brings decades of proven expertise in delivering world-class aircraft maintenance solutions to airlines across Africa and beyond. Operating from its main base in Nairobi, Kenya, KQ MRO is an approved EASA Part-145 and KCAA-certified organization, offering a comprehensive suite of services including base maintenance, line maintenance, and component support across multiple aircraft platforms.
The organization supports a wide range of capabilities, including heavy airframe checks, avionics and mechanical component repair, non-destructive testing (NDT), and specialised workshop services. As the only Embraer Authorised Service Centre in the region, KQ MRO holds a unique position in supporting E-Jet operators across the continent.
Beyond technical services, KQ MRO provides integrated engineering support, supply chain and logistics solutions, quality assurance, and continuous improvement programmes. With a strong focus on safety, reliability, and turnaround performance, KQ MRO is committed to delivering efficient, customer-centric solutions that meet global aviation standards.
About South African Airways Technical
South African Airways Technical (SAAT) has dedicated the last 90 years to delivering aircraft maintenance services to a diverse range of operators across domestic, regional, and international markets. The company provides major airframe checks, mechanical and avionic component repairs and line maintenance services, amongst others. Based primarily in Johannesburg, South Africa, SAAT also provides line maintenance services at airports within Africa. Its extensive support includes engineering, supply chain management, logistics, quality assurance, aircraft painting, major structural repairs, cabin and related modifications, and a high-quality apprentice and technical training programme.
