AeroWest 2026, West and Central Africa’s Premier Aviation Tourism Summit has called for stronger collaboration, improved connectivity and increased investment to unlock the growth potential of aviation and tourism across the region.
The AeroWest 2026 Summit was convened by Jet Afrique Aviation Services Limited and West Africa Tourism (WATO) in Ikeja, Lagos in September 2026, under the theme, “Financing Connectivity: Unlocking Aviation and Tourism Growth in West & Central Africa”, the 3-day gathering brought together airline executives, development finance institutions, regulators, insurers, tourism authorities, investors to shape the future of flights and travel in West and Central Africa.
The convener of the AeroWest 2026, the Chief Executive Officer, Jet Afrique Aviation Services Limited, Mr. Theodore Chikelu said that West and Central Africa must strengthen the connection between aviation and tourism to unlock economic growth. He called for better connectivity, modern infrastructure, aligned visa policies, SAATM implementation, improved air traffic management and stronger partnerships, urging stakeholders to move from discussions to practical, bankable projects, strategic partnerships and cross-border investments.
The formal opening of the AeroWest 2026 Summit was made by the former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Olusegun Obasanjo, he called for stronger collaboration among government, the private sector, civil society and local communities to unlock Africa’s aviation and tourism potential. He stressed that “Aviation and tourism are two sides of the same coin. It’s how we make the coin; the two sides come together and work together and achieve the purpose and the purpose is prosperity for all.”
The former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Olusegun Obasanjo, and the Convener of AeroWest 2026 Summit, Mr. Theodore Chikelu
According to the organisers of the Summit, the five strategic pillars of AeroWest includes; Financing aviation growth, Connecting Africa, Unlocking tourism demand, Innovation & the Digital travel economy and regional partnerships. AeroWest 2026 was structured around the implementation of landmark institutional initiatives to move from policy commitments to bankable actions.
It featured also industry discussions and panel sessions focused on Cost of running an Aviation Business, Connecting West & Central Africa, Creating Destination Demand, Financing and Supporting Connectivity, Culture, Heritage and the Diaspora, Fintech and Capital, and Business-to-Business (B2B) meetings.
Speaking during the session on “The Real Cost of Running An Aviation Business”, The Chief Commercial Officer, United Nigeria Airlines, Mr. Dayo Olawuyi highlighted the financial pressure facing airlines, noting that carriers earn mainly in Naira while major expenses such as aircraft acquisition, fuel, maintenance, crew training are paid in foreign currency. He also pointed to rising fuel costs and the lack of adequate Maintenance and Repair Overhaul (MRO) facilities in Nigeria which forces airlines to send their aircraft abroad for servicing and called for a reduced aviation charges and taxes.
AeroWest 2026 was positioned as a forum for strengthening aviation financing, improving regional connectivity and unlocking tourism investment by creating practical partnerships capable of supporting the long-term growth of the aviation and tourism sector in West and Central Africa.