Boeing aims to soar in Africa

The continent will need 1 200 new commercial aircraft over the next two decades, the firm says

- Lyse Comins

Boeing says Africa will not be able to integrate without the expansion of the aviation sector and the company is growing its business to take advantage of the demand for air travel and cargo movement on the continent.

There is a direct correlation between economic expansion and the growth of air travel globally, Boeing Africa managing director Henok Shawl said at the Africa CEO Forum held in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, earlier this week.

“For us, it’s quite straightforward. This is a continent that is growing and growing very fast. And, in this respect, that translates directly to air travel growth that means more Boeing products and services will be sold into this continent,” Shawl told a session discussing “a new paradigm to United States business partnerships with Africa”.

This was why the company opened a new office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia two weeks ago, he added.

“We foresee, over the next 20 years, that this continent will need 1200 new commercial aircraft. That’s a lot of aircraft, and that’s a lot of US exports, and that’s also a lot of US and African jobs.

“So, it’s in the interest of Boeing, the US government and African governments to be realising its goal,” he said.