Kenya's President Dr. William Samoye Ruto emphasizes the importance of aviation to Africa. He welcomed the fact that 37 IATA Ground Handling Conferences (IGHCs) will be held for the first time in Africa from May 13th to May 15th this year. (IATA – International Air Transport Association – is the global representative body of the aviation industry.)
“Aviation opens up a world of opportunities for economic and social development, and the greatest potential of aviation is to make a real difference in the prosperity of African people,” Root asserted. “Welcome and support of Kenya's IGHC is an example of the importance Kenya has in the aviation sector and its expectations as a leading development in the sector across Kenya and the continent.”
The conference will focus on ground operations, baggage operations, collaboration and innovation. Ground operations will then focus on the reliability of ground support equipment (GSE), the transition to hydrogen-powered GSE, the benefits of harmonized training, and key safety focus areas for ground personnel. When it comes to baggage operations, this is the first IGHC to hold sessions specializing in real-time baggage tracking, transitioning to modern messaging standards, and transitioning to electronic bag tags. Collaboration and innovation cover collaboration between airports and ground handlers, providing privatization insights and considering future regulations for ground handling.
“Ground treatment is important for the safety, efficiency and resilience of the aviation industry as a whole,” stressed IATA Director Willie Walsh. “The keyword we will focus on at this year's IGHC is “elevation.” We will explore ways to promote better performance in the ground handling department. It means modernizing operations, investing in the workforce, strengthening coordination and collaboration so ground treatment can support growth more efficiently. ”
President Root and Walsh will both give keynote speeches at IGHC 2025. The same goes for Host Airlines' CEO Alan Kirabuka.
“As an African aviation leader, Kenya Airlines is honored to be a pioneer of this landmark event,” Kirabuka said. “IGHC's hosting is consistent with its mission to promote innovation, promote partnerships and showcasing preparations to shape Africa's global air travel future.
