The IGHC will be historic as it marks the first time the conference is hosted on the African continent. This significant milestone underscores Africa's rising prominence in global aviation and Kenya's leadership as a regional hub. This historic event is a testament to the increasing influence of the African aviation industry and serves as a moment of pride for all involved.

Kenya Airways: Connecting Africa to the World.

Speaking ahead of the event, Allan Kilavuka, Kenya Airways MD & CEO, stated, "As Africa's aviation leader, Kenya Airways is honoured to pioneer this landmark event. Hosting IGHC aligns with our mission to drive innovation, foster partnerships, and showcase Africa's readiness to shape the future of global air travel. Hosting IGHC 2025 in Kenya reaffirms our commitment to advancing the industry—domestically and continentally while unlocking prosperity and connectivity for the African continent.

Elevating Ground Handling for a Sustainable Future

According to IATA Willie Walsh, IATA's Director General, the conference will focus on strengthening coordination and collaboration so ground handlers can drive better performance in the sector. "Ground handling is not just a part of the aviation industry; it serves as its backbone by ensuring safety, efficiency, and resilience, a key focus of this year's IGHC. The theme of 'Elevate' underscores the commitment to driving better ground handling performance through modernizing operations, investing in the workforce, and strengthening coordination and collaboration. This is a crucial aspect of the industry that we all need to be aware of and work towards improving."

Conference delegates will have an opportunity to enrich their knowledge on topics such as:

• Ground Operations: Innovations in ground support equipment (GSE), hydrogen-powered GSE adoption, and harmonized safety training.
• Baggage Operations: Breakthroughs in real-time tracking, electronic bag tags, and modern messaging standards.
• Collaboration & Innovation: Strategies for public-private partnerships, regulatory advancements, and airport-handler synergy.

The conference also advances IATA's Focus Africa initiative, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable aviation growth across the continent.