VivaJets, the business aviation arm of Falcon Aerospace Group, has called on African leaders to move beyond policy declarations and begin implementing practical measures that will strengthen continental integration, improve mobility, and unlock economic growth across Africa.
The company made the call during the just-concluded Africa CEO Forum 2026 held in Kigali, Rwanda, where political leaders, investors, and corporate executives gathered to discuss investment, regional cooperation, and private-sector-led development across the continent.
The forum, founded by the Jeune Afrique Media Group, is regarded as one of Africa’s largest platforms for dialogue between governments and the private sector. The 2026 edition, themed “The Scale Imperative: Why Africa Must Embrace Shared Ownership,” focused on accelerating regional integration, cross-border investment, and economic collaboration.
According to a statement issued by the company, VivaJets participated in the event as a strategic mobility partner supporting the movement of business and government leaders across Africa.
Speaking on the sidelines of the forum, the Chief Executive Officer of VivaJets, Erika Achum, said Africa already possesses the vision and political ambition for integration but still lacks the coordinated implementation required to transform those ambitions into measurable economic progress.
“As a three-year supporter of the Africa CEO Forum, I have watched the energy, participation and corporate goodwill grow significantly with every edition. The commitments made by both public and private sector leaders are inspiring,” Achum said.
He, however, stressed that the continent must urgently shift from policy rhetoric to execution.
“The real question is whether these commitments are translating into concrete action. We do not just need treaties and declarations; we need harmonised regulations, cross-border policies and infrastructure that can immediately support trade, investment and movement across the continent,” he added.
Achum noted that business aviation has an increasingly strategic role to play in improving continental mobility, reducing travel inefficiencies, and connecting African business hubs more directly.
“Africa’s skies should connect us, not divide us. Business aviation is becoming the connective tissue of continental trade and leadership engagement,” he said.
VivaJets’ participation at the forum follows several strategic expansion milestones by the company, including a $10 million credit facility secured from London-based TLG to support fleet growth and expansion into global markets.
The company said the investment is aimed at bridging connectivity gaps between African cities, reducing dependence on indirect international routes, and supporting intra-African trade and commerce.
The Chief Operating Officer of VivaJets, Tejumade Salami, said Africa’s integration goals would remain difficult to achieve without seamless mobility across regions.
“At VivaJets, we see ourselves not just as an aviation provider but as a business connectivity catalyst. Private aviation helps remove geographic barriers to commerce by offering reliable and flexible mobility for business leaders across Africa,” Salami said.
She added that stronger regulatory cooperation and supportive aviation policies would be critical to unlocking the full potential of regional air connectivity and economic integration.
Salami also stated that the company’s ongoing expansion strategy is focused on connecting key commercial centres across Africa while reducing reliance on multiple-stop travel routes that slow business activity on the continent.
Beyond operations, VivaJets has also intensified advocacy for broader aviation reforms across Africa, including the removal of restrictive visa policies for aircrew and the harmonisation of fragmented regional aviation regulations.
The company said such reforms would align with the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by improving accessibility, simplifying movement across borders, and strengthening regional economic collaboration.
Also speaking at the forum, the company’s Head of Business Transformation, Kayode Adebiyi, said VivaJets remains committed to investing in technological innovation, fleet expansion, and international partnerships aimed at improving operational efficiency and supporting Africa’s long-term connectivity goals.
“To facilitate a truly integrated Africa, the aviation industry itself must evolve. This is why VivaJets is investing in expansion, technological innovation and international partnerships aimed at building a more efficient fleet capable of meeting the mobility needs of African leaders and businesses,” Adebiyi said.
Industry observers say improved air connectivity remains one of the key requirements for accelerating trade, investment flows, and economic integration across Africa, especially as the continent pushes for deeper implementation of AfCFTA and other regional economic initiatives.
