By Samuel Ssenono
Airbus and South Africa’s ALT Academy have signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at expanding aircraft maintenance training in Africa, as the continent seeks to reduce its longstanding dependence on overseas maintenance facilities and technical expertise.
The agreement, signed at the Africa Aerospace and Defence Expo 2026 in the City of Tshwane on Wednesday, will see the two organisations explore joint training programmes designed to bring academic instruction closer to the technical requirements of modern aircraft maintenance.
The deal comes against the backdrop of a persistent maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capacity gap in Africa. African airlines and industry bodies have for years raised concerns about inadequate local capacity, particularly for specialised maintenance such as engines and components, forcing significant maintenance work to be carried out outside the continent.
At the inaugural African MRO Conference in Addis Ababa earlier this year, the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) said dependence on off-continent maintenance was contributing to higher costs and longer aircraft downtime. The conference identified insufficient MRO capacity, parts availability, logistics bottlenecks and shortages of skilled personnel among the industry’s main challenges.
The problem is not an absence of maintenance facilities altogether. Africa already has established MRO operations, including those operated by Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, EgyptAir and South African Airways Technical. The concern is that capacity and specialist capabilities remain insufficient relative to the continent’s requirements. AFRAA has consequently called for greater cooperation between airlines, MRO providers and aviation training organisations to build capacity locally.
The skills requirement is also expected to increase as African airline fleets expand. Airbus says Africa will require about 30,000 new mechanics over the next 20 years, alongside 20,000 pilots and 21,000 cabin crew.
Under the Airbus-ALT Academy agreement, the two organisations will identify training initiatives and learning solutions intended to bridge the gap between academic training and industry requirements.
Airbus Country Representative in South Africa Nam-Binh Hoang said the partnership was intended to help develop a pipeline of skilled professionals capable of supporting increasingly sophisticated aircraft.
ALT Academy CEO Ryan van Wijk said access to current manufacturer knowledge was particularly important as modern aircraft become more technically advanced.
The MoU is, however, a framework rather than the launch of specific courses. Airbus and ALT Academy say details covering training programmes, course content, accreditation and enrolment will be announced as the plans are developed and the required approvals secured
