Airlines, New Tech and Countries Must Align to Decarbonize East African Skies
Posted by JIM MWANDA
By Joris Holtus
Aviation in Africa, as in many regions, plays a uniquely catalytic role in socio-economic transformation. Kenya’s economy, for instance, is deeply intertwined with international mobility, spanning horticulture exports routed through Nairobi, and the tourism corridors connecting the country to markets across Europe and Asia. Tanzania’s development strategy similarly depends on stronger air links to sustain tourism and open channels for industrial diversification. Rwanda and Uganda, with their expanding conference and services sectors, are also strengthening their aviation capacity to support national development. As a result, demand for air travel across East Africa, like the rest of Africa, is expected to rise steadily over the next 20 years, according to IATA[1], an encouraging sign of economic momentum, but one that risks locking the region into a high-carbon transport model just as global policy is tightening.
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In this context, a calibrated combination of technological renewal and smarter operations defines the path forward. New-generation aircraft, capable of cutting emissions by up to 25 per cent compared with older fleets, are already transforming the carbon intensity of travel in East Africa. Serving major hubs such as Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, these modern aircraft reduce fuel burn while improving reliability and lowering noise. They also offer improved maintenance efficiency, which supports cost stability for airlines. Yet while these efficiency gains are significant, they cannot on their own deliver the scale of reductions required.
This is where operational efficiency comes in as an essential second lever. Measures such as continuous-descent approaches and single-engine taxiing within regional airspaces deliver immediate emissions reductions, even in infrastructure-constrained environments. At the same time, modernising airspace coordination across East Africa can reduce flight distances and delays through harmonised procedures, upgraded navigation technology and more seamless cross-border routing. Together, these measures create the structural conditions for sustained emissions reduction beyond aircraft and operational improvements.
A third lever involves the integration of infrastructure and airspace modernisation, adding an equally important dimension to long-term decarbonisation. Modern airport designs, which factor in energy-efficient lighting, improved power management and the development of on-site renewable generation, play a role in cutting back ground-side emissions. Indeed, it is exciting to see several airlines implementing complementary measures to reduce waste and strengthen circularity. Commitments to eliminate single-use plastics on board including the replacement of cutlery, cups, stirrers and similar items with biodegradable or reusable alternatives, are cutting waste volumes and reducing upstream emissions associated with plastic production. Many airlines are also expanding cabin-waste segregation and more efficient catering logistics, each contributing modest but cumulative environmental benefits.
The coming decades will determine whether aviation continues to enable global opportunity or becomes constrained by its environmental footprint. For East Africa, the stakes are particularly high because the region stands to benefit enormously from stronger connectivity. However, it also has a unique chance to shape a model of growth that is more efficient and aligned with the scientific imperatives of this era.
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The writer is Air France-KLM’s General Manager for East and Southern Africa, Nigeria and Ghana.
