The Zambian aviation industry will take Centre stage this October when Proflight Zambia co-hosts the Airlines Association of Southern Africa’s (AASA) 55th Annual General Assembly (AGA). The assembly takes place from 16 to 19 October 2025 at Lusaka’s five-star Ciela Resort and marks a landmark occasion for the airline and Zambia.
The highly anticipated event will have over 250 delegates, including airline officials, regulators, policymakers, and tourism players from across the region, in attendance. With the theme “Believe, Stop, Improve,” this year’s discussions will be guided around primary agenda topics of competitiveness, sustainability, digitalisation, route development, inclusivity, and regulatory harmonization within the aviation sector.
It is a point of pride for the nation to be hosting the event, Proflight Zambia Director of Flight Operations, Captain Josias Walubita, said. “Hosting AASA in Lusaka is a milestone not only for Zambia but also for the entire Southern African region,” he said. “As a private airline with more than 20 years’ experience in regional and domestic connectivity, we see this as an opportunity to showcase Zambia’s rising status as an aviation hub and tourism destination.”
One of the highlights of the AGA will be the Gala Dinner on 18 October, where more than 250 industry leaders, CEOs, regulators, and innovators will gather to celebrate regional achievement and partnerships. Proflight Zambia, as host airline, will seize the moment to showcase the nation’s warm hospitality, cuisine, and culture. Delegates will gain an authentic Zambian experience while networking and negotiating the future of air transport in the region.
Proflight Zambia already boasts an extensive domestic network connecting major cities and tourist centers such as Livingstone, Mfuwe, and the Lower Zambezi. The airline also operates regionally to Johannesburg and Cape Town and is poised to expand even more with new services to Windhoek in the near future. With the expanded route network, the airline is expanding connectivity even more and further supporting the growth of Zambia’s tourism and trade sectors.
In line with global industry trends, Proflight Zambia has embraced digital innovation to offer more customer convenience. The airline recently introduced mobile money payments and announced that it will be a completely cashless airline by November 2025. This is in line with its commitment to efficiency, safety, and modernization in air travel.
During the assembly, delegates will also address some of the key challenges facing regional aviation, such as high airport and air traffic control charges, which are structural cost drivers of flying. The discussions will focus on how to stimulate demand on both primary and secondary routes, with a view to making regional air transport more affordable and accessible.
“Regional aviation goes beyond flights; it also connects economies and societies,” Captain Walubita added. “AASA 2025 presents a chance to find solutions to open Southern African skies to be more accessible, competitive, and sustainable.”
As the largest aviation stakeholder meeting and airline meeting in Southern Africa, the AASA Annual General Assembly is a significant event on the regional calendar. Proflight Zambia’s co-hosting it again shows its commitment to promoting regional connectivity, jumpstarting tourism growth, and putting Zambia on the region’s aviation map as a serious player.
