The International Air Transport Association (IATA), the global representative body for the airline industry, has announced that its second Wings of Change Focus Africa Conference (WOCFA) will take place in Johannesburg, South Africa, on July 2 and July 3 this year. The host airline for the conference will be South African Airways (SAA).

WOCFA forms part of IATA’s Focus Africa initiative, and serves as a platform to examine and review the initiative’s priorities. Focus Africa is intended to reinforce the role of aviation in the continent’s development, social as well as economic, including through improving safety, reliability and connectivity, for both people and cargo.

“Africa’s aviation market holds immense untapped potential, with expectations for traffic to double in the next 15 years,” highlights IATA regional VP for Africa and the Middle East Kamil Alawadhi. “The Focus Africa initiative has identified key priorities that, if addressed collaboratively and effectively, will bolster Africa’s aviation industry and enhance its socioeconomic impact. A year into the Focus Africa initiative, we have seen progress in areas such as safety, but there is still a long way to go. This year’s IATA [WOCFA] builds on this progress by addressing critical areas such as safety, security, sustainability, economic development, and the overall resilience of the industry.”

There will be eight main session tracks at the conference. They are – safety, security, boosting regional traffic, airport infrastructure, modern airline retailing, sustainability (with a focus on sustainable aviation fuels), air cargo, and skills and training. The opening keynote address will be given by SAA CEO Professor Malesela John Lamola.

“We are delighted to host IATA’s [WOCFA] and welcome the aviation industry to our home, Johannesburg,” enthuses Lamola. “Advancing the air transport industry is critical for Africa’s economic growth. The conference will allow industry leaders to join forces and drive the agenda for a stronger, more resilient African aviation industry.”