Aviation leaders met in Zanzibar in June for the Aviadev Africa 2025 conference to address the challenges and opportunities of the continent. Linas Dovydėnas, president of Chapman Freeborn Imea, took part in a panel entitled “The Friedwinds: Naviging Rise, Financial Hurdles, Supply Challenges.” His insights revealed how ACMI (aircraft, crew, insurance, insurance) solutions can transform aviation in Africa.
ACMI – A solution to gain traction
Air traffic in the region is expected to triple more than triple by 2043, while also increasing average annually by 6.4% as Africa's young and rapidly growing population seeks more travel opportunities.
ACMI leases emerge as a strategic response to this surge in demand, providing airlines with the flexibility to expand operations without the financial burden of aircraft ownership. This wet lease model provides aircraft and crew to airlines, dealing with gaps in bridge services caused by seasonal peaks and aircraft maintenance.
There are over 1,500 aircraft available worldwide for ACMI leases, with half operating under ACMI contracts alone. However, according to Dovydėnas, this capability remains underutilized by African airlines.
“Leasing in Africa is gaining traction, and African airlines are increasingly reaching out due to supply chain bottlenecks, inability to secure dry leases.
This perception creates a wider trend, with African Airlines approaching ACMI providers a few weeks before the peak season, leading to price growth. Such a procurement strategy is ultimately at slashing the cost-effectiveness that makes ACMI attractive in the first place.
Future plans will pay off
African Airlines are increasingly adopting ACMI, but they still need to move from last minute decisions to strategic advancement plans. dovydėnas supports accepting ACMI not as an emergency revision, but as a long-term strategic tool that will help generate profits.
“A proper planning allows airlines to flexibly scale during peak season without committing to fixed costs all year round. We recommend signing an ACMI agreement 1-3 years ago to ensure better pricing and availability.”
Chapman Freeborn is actively working with African Aviation and authorities to position ACMI solutions as a component of long-term capacity planning. Encouraged, the company is beginning to see early discussions about the multi-year ACMI partnership.
Addressing African aviation needs
The panelists addressed important market constraints. The availability of aircraft remains extremely severe. The delay in global OEM delivery has pushed mature markets towards ACMI solutions, reducing the availability of second-hand aircraft flowing into the African market. This creates complex supply dynamics that make traditional acquisition models more challenging, and ACMI's on-demand availability is especially valuable for African airlines.
Chapman Freeborn currently supports African Airlines with ACMI and freight services. As part of the world's largest ACMI group, the company is offering additional aircraft to Africa Airlines when needed due to busy travel seasons, operational gaps, or unexpected surges in demand. The company also plays a key role in moving cargo across the continent, particularly humanitarian aid and emergency relief supplies to areas that are difficult to reach.
“We are working with both airlines and aviation authorities to make it easier and faster for foreign aircraft to obtain approval for operation in Africa,” explains Dovydėnas. “The local offices in Johannesburg will stay close to the market, respond quickly and help build strong relationships across the region. Africa remains an important focus for Chapman Freeborn, continuing to explore ways to strengthen partnerships and presence across the continent.”
