By Samuel Ssenono
The African Business Aviation Association has launched a major research project aimed at giving the continent’s business aviation sector a clearer data foundation for investment, policy engagement and industry planning.
The first phase of the study is already underway, with initial findings expected to be presented at Aviation Africa in Nairobi, Kenya, on September 9 and 10, 2026.
AfBAA says the project will provide one of the most comprehensive data-led assessments of business aviation in Africa, a sector often discussed through perception, limited figures and fragmented market information.
The research is being conducted by Seefeld Group, an independent behavioural economics and strategic marketing research consultancy led by its president and founder, Charles Porteous.
AfBAA Chairperson Dawit Lemma said the study is intended to give members, operators, policymakers and investors a stronger basis for decisions across the continent.
“This type of research is long overdue for our members and those seeking to operate effectively in Africa,” Lemma said.
He said the data would support smarter investment, stronger advocacy, improved safety, more resilient operations and longer-term business growth.
According to AfBAA, the first phase will take a data-first approach, covering fleet, economic and maintenance analysis, as well as a review of how the business aviation sector is portrayed in the media.
The study will look at non-scheduled aviation activity, including business jets, turboprops, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles, reflecting the wide scope of AfBAA’s membership.
Lemma said the research would help challenge long-held assumptions about business aviation in Africa by aggregating and analysing raw data, rather than relying on anecdotal evidence or industry perception.
“The holistic approach will look not just at which types of aircraft are flying which routes, but also at what they are doing and how business aviation activity affects economies,” he said.
Porteous said Africa remains one of the world’s most dynamic but least understood business aviation markets.
He said Seefeld Group would work to provide AfBAA, operators and policymakers with credible insight on fleet composition, operational activity and how business aviation is used across the continent.
AfBAA says data sourcing, analysis and reporting will remain central to its work as it seeks to raise the visibility of business aviation in Africa, strengthen its membership base and deepen engagement with global aviation bodies.
The association, launched in May 2012, represents aircraft owners, operators and suppliers in Africa’s business aviation industry. It says its mandate is to promote the role of business aviation in the continent’s economic development through advocacy, industry coordination and awareness.
The current AfBAA executive is led by Chairperson Dawit Lemma and Vice Chair Craig Middleton.
