AviaDev Africa, the continent’s dedicated air service development conference, has confirmed Zambia as the host destination for AviaDev Africa 2027, with Zambia Airports Corporation Limited (ZACL) appointed as official host partner.
The announcement represents a defining moment for Zambia’s aviation and tourism sectors and coincides with the formal launch of Airlift Zambia, a far-reaching air access initiative designed to reposition the country as a leading regional connectivity hub and unlock new long-haul and intra-African routes.
AviaDev Africa convenes airlines, airports, tourism authorities, policymakers and aviation service providers in a highly focused environment dedicated to route development, air service negotiations and connectivity strategy. Previous editions have been hosted in Windhoek in 2024, Zanzibar in 2025 and Botswana in 2026. Zambia’s selection for 2027 reflects its growing credibility as one of Southern Africa’s most strategically ambitious aviation markets.
Airlift Zambia – closing connectivity gaps
At the core of Zambia’s successful bid is Airlift Zambia, a comprehensive programme aimed at addressing structural air access constraints, attracting new international airlines and strengthening regional connectivity. The initiative targets direct services from Europe, the Gulf, Asia and North America, while also deepening links across Southern, East and Central Africa.
ZACL has already recorded tangible progress. Airlines including Qatar Airways, Uganda Airlines, Fastjet Zimbabwe and Eswatini Air have commenced operations into Zambia. At the regional level, Proflight Zambia has expanded services linking Lusaka and Livingstone with Windhoek and Gaborone, opening new cross-border tourism and trade corridors.
ZACL manages four international airports – Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport, Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport and Mfuwe Airport – alongside a network of provincial aerodromes. Airlift Zambia will leverage this multi-gateway system to drive decentralised tourism growth, positioning Livingstone and Mfuwe as priority access points for wildlife, adventure and high-value experiential tourism.
Aviation aligned with tourism growth
Zambia’s aviation ambitions are closely aligned with an accelerating tourism trajectory. International arrivals have increased from approximately 1.1 million in 2022 to 2.3 million in 2025, more than doubling in three years. The government is now targeting between 2.5 and 3 million international arrivals in 2026, with a long-term objective of building a USD 1 billion tourism industry by 2031.
Tourism currently contributes around seven percent of national GDP and supports approximately 473,000 jobs, with employment forecast to rise to over 600,000 by 2034 if growth targets are realised. For 2026, the government has committed K1.5 billion, equivalent to roughly USD 55 million, towards tourism infrastructure, conservation, destination marketing and the opening up of remote tourism areas. Priority source markets include Germany, the United Kingdom, North America, South Africa, India, China and the Gulf states.
A catalyst moment for route development
Hosting AviaDev Africa 2027 is widely viewed as a catalytic intervention that will accelerate route development by bringing airline decision-makers directly into the destination. Lusaka’s role as a growing regional business hub, combined with Zambia’s political stability, open skies orientation and visa facilitation measures, strengthens its appeal as both a host city and investment proposition.
Zambia also offers one of Africa’s most compelling tourism portfolios – anchored by Victoria Falls, a UNESCO-recognised natural wonder, and complemented by world-class wilderness areas such as South Luangwa, Kafue and Lower Zambezi National Parks. Low visitor density and a conservation-led approach position the country strongly within the premium adventure and eco-tourism segment.
Industry confidence
Urvesh Desai, Managing Director of ZACL, described hosting AviaDev Africa as a strategic milestone, noting that each new route secured represents a direct boost to tourism, exports and national competitiveness.
Jon Howell, CEO and Founder of AviaDev Africa, said Zambia embodies the type of opportunity the forum was created to unlock – a destination with proven tourism momentum but significant untapped air connectivity potential.
With AviaDev Africa 2027 confirmed for Zambia, the country is no longer positioning itself on the margins of Africa’s aviation conversation – it is placing itself firmly at the centre of it.
