373. AviaDev's March 2026 Connectivity Update with Behramjee Ghadially and Sean Mendis

In the March 2026 AviDev Africa connectivity update, host Jon Howell and consultants Sean Mendis and Behramjee Ghadially discuss how the Iran war and GCC corridor disruption are reshaping Africa-related air travel, creating short-term transit gains for Ethiopian, Kenya Airways, Uganda Airlines and Air Peace but driving major fare increases, insurance constraints, and severe jet-fuel supply-chain risks that could lead to rationing and technical stops.

They review Ethiopian's schedule changes and debate the Atlanta restart, analyze Kenya Airways' Gatwick increase alongside worsening financial results, and detail Uganda Airlines' operational crisis, leadership changes, and wet-leased Ethiopian 787 operations.

The episode also critiques Air Tanzania's planned Seychelles launch, covers Air Seychelles' wet-lease adjustments, notes Air Transat postponing Toronto–Accra, highlights Africa World Airlines' move to Embraer 190s, summarizes Air Peace's West Africa network retiming and Caribbean resumption, and discusses Enugu Air's AOC transition and ambitious fleet-growth claims.

00:00 March Update Kickoff

02:40 The Impact of the Iran war on Africa

05:04 Fuel Supply Crunch and impact

10:00 Fare and Load Factor Shock

20:43 How will Gulf Carriers react?

31:23 Kenya Airways Gatwick Boost

35:06 Kenya Airways Results And Outlook

42:10 Ethiopian Airlines to launch Atlanta Debate

44:24 Uganda Airlines Turmoil

51:58 Air Tanzania Seychelles Route

57:07 Indigo XLR Pivot to Africa

01:04:48 Indigo Strategy and Leadership Shift

01:09:43 Air Seychelles Wet Lease

01:16:25 Air Transat Shelves Toronto - Accra route

01:20:12 Africa World Airlines Adds E190

01:23:55 Air Peace Regional Network Shakeup

01:33:12 Enugu Air Fleet Growth

01:37:47 Wrap Up and Next Episode