IATA Launches Safety Training Programme To Improve Aviation Standards Across Africa

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has launched a new series of specialised safety training and capacity-building workshops aimed at strengthening aviation safety standards across Africa as the continent continues efforts to close the gap with global safety performance. The initiative, introduced under IATA’s Focus Africa Collaborative Aviation Safety Improvement Programme (CASIP), will feature monthly workshops and webinars designed to equip aviation safety professionals with practical skills, regulatory guidance and international best practices to improve operational safety and oversight. The programme comes despite signs of progress in Africa’s aviation safety record. According to IATA, the continent’s all-accident rate fell to 7.86 accidents per million sectors in 2025, an improvement from its five-year average of 9.37 accidents per million sectors. However, the figure remains significantly higher than the global average, highlighting the need for sustained efforts to enhance safety across African aviation. Speaking on the initiative, IATA’s Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, Kamil Alawadhi, said the industry must continue working together to improve safety standards across the continent. He noted that while the reduction in the accident rate was encouraging, Africa still had considerable ground to cover before reaching global performance levels. “The all-accident rate for Africa was 7.86 accidents per million sectors in 2025. That’s an improvement compared to Africa’s five-year average of 9.37, but as this is still several times the global average, we have more work to do,” Alawadhi said. He added that the CASIP safety workshops would bring together the expertise of leading aviation stakeholders to encourage knowledge sharing while providing safety professionals with practical tools and best practices to strengthen aviation safety performance throughout Africa. The training programme officially commenced in Nairobi, Kenya, with an in-person workshop on Safety Management Systems (SMS). The event was organised in partnership with Boeing, Kenya Airways and the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA). Building on the launch, IATA has scheduled a series of additional training activities over the coming months. These include a Ground Operations Risk Management webinar in August, a Space Debris Awareness webinar in September, a Runway Safety in-person workshop in October and a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) Awareness webinar in November. The CASIP initiative is supported by a broad coalition of international and regional aviation organisations committed to improving safety across Africa. In addition to IATA, the programme is backed by the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), the Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA), Airbus, Boeing, Brussels Airlines, the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO), the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), IFALPA and Kenya Airways. IATA said the collaborative approach reflects the industry’s determination to accelerate safety improvements by combining technical expertise, regulatory support and operational experience to build a stronger and safer aviation sector across the African continent.