10th Aviation AFRICA Summit & Exhibition, held at the Sarit Expo Centre in Nairobi on 9–10 September 2026.
The milestone 10th edition brought together aviation leaders, airlines, regulators, airports, manufacturers, technology companies and other industry stakeholders from across Africa and around the world. The event was hosted in Nairobi by the State Department for Aviation & Aerospace Development, Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, Kenya Airports Authority and Kenya Airways.
The theme for the 10th Summit was “Breaking the Mould – Finding Solutions to the Key Challenges Hindering Africa’s Aviation Industry.” The discussions focused on some of the major issues facing African aviation, including infrastructure, regulation, skills development, connectivity, sustainability, training, technology and the future of the industry.
From the applications received, 50 young women were selected to attend the Summit. Ultimately, 35 young women attended the Aviation Africa Conference, giving them the opportunity to experience a major aviation industry event alongside professionals and leaders from across the sector. this was a unique opportunity to experience the aviation industry from the inside. The students were not simply spectators. They were encouraged to walk around the exhibition, visit different stands, ask questions and introduce themselves to aviation professionals. They met representatives from airlines, manufacturers, regulators, technology companies and aviation organisations, giving them an opportunity to learn about the different roles and businesses that make up the aviation industry. For some, it was the first time they had walked into a major international aviation exhibition and seen the scale of the industry for themselves. The experience also helped reinforce one of the key messages of our outreach programme: aviation is not one career — it is an entire industry of opportunities. The Summit provided the girls with the chance to see this at first hand. They could speak to industry professionals about their careers, learn about new technologies and discover areas of aviation they may never previously have considered. We were particularly pleased to see so many industry professionals take the time to speak with the young women, answer their questions and encourage them. These conversations may seem small, but for a young person considering their future, they can make a lasting impression.
There was also a lovely story that unfolded at our stand. Several students kept asking us if we were part of the 99s Flying School in Nairobi, Kenya. As far as we were concerned, we had no connection to the school and are not part of the 99s Flying School in Nairobi. Until a lovely lady stopped by and told us, “Oh yes, there is a connection!” We discovered an incredible piece of history and the beautiful story of Denise Morchand Erwin, a Ninety-Nines member who moved to Kenya in 1964, became a pilot in 1969 and helped establish the first Kenyan chapter of The Ninety-Nines, Inc.®, International Organization of Women Pilots. Denise later started the Ninety-Nines Flying Club, which she ran for 19 years. When she eventually left Kenya to return to her home country, the USA, she sold the flying school and passed the baton on to others. What a beautiful reminder that the history of the Ninety-Nines in Africa goes back decades — and that the 99s Flying School continues today. It was a special moment for us to discover this connection while standing at our own Ninety-Nines stand, surrounded by young women who were beginning to discover their own place in aviation.
The 10th Aviation AFRICA Summit may have been about “Breaking the Mould”, but for the young women who attended, it was also about breaking down the idea that aviation is a world that is out of reach. Sometimes all it takes is an opportunity to walk through the door. Once they see what is possible, the question becomes: Why not me?
A very special thank you to Aviation Africa for its continued support of the African Section 99s and our work with young women, and to Wings For Women for its partnership, energy and commitment to helping us make this initiative possible.