Ghanaian entrepreneur Basil David Anthony, Chief Executive Officer of Ticket Ghana Ltd., was among the business leaders who attended the inaugural African Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Conference, held from March 29 to 31, 2026 at the Ethiopian Skylight Hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Organised by the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) in partnership with four founding MRO providers, Ethiopian MRO, EgyptAir Maintenance and Engineering, Kenya Airways MRO, and South African Airways Technical, the conference was hosted by Ethiopian Airlines under the patronage of the Government of Ethiopia. The three-day event drew over 450 delegates from more than 50 countries under the theme “Building Africa’s Sustainable MRO Ecosystem.”
Speaking on the sidelines of the conference, Basil emphasised the importance of building a technically grounded and self-reliant aviation industry across the continent. “Africa’s aviation future depends not only on connectivity, but also on our ability to build strong technical and operational foundations within the continent. Events like this create the platform to align stakeholders and drive that vision forward,” he said.
During the conference, Basil held business-to-business meetings with airlines, MRO providers, and aviation stakeholders, exploring avenues for collaboration and knowledge exchange.
The AFRAA MRO Marketplace, a structured platform facilitating direct engagements between airlines, MROs, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and service providers, emerged as a key feature of the event. AFRAA Secretary General Abderahmane Berthé noted that airlines spend between 10 and 12 percent of operating costs on MRO, making efficiency in the sector critical to the financial health of African carriers.
Participants reaffirmed the urgent need to reduce Africa’s dependence on off-continent maintenance, which continues to drive up airline costs and aircraft downtime. Technical sessions, industry panels, and facility tours at Ethiopian MRO formed part of the programme, covering workforce development, digital transformation, and supply chain resilience.
AFRAA confirmed that the next edition of the African MRO Conference will be held in 2027.
