Our Engagement Archive

Among the senior industry participants were Alan Newby, Director of Aerospace Technology and Future Programmes at Rolls-Royce; Jonathan Counsell, Group Head of Sustainability at IAG; Harry Armstrong, Head of Sustainability at the UK Civil Aviation Authority; Haldane Dodd, Executive Director of the Air Transport Action Group; Diana Birkett Rakow, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Sustainability at Alaska Airlines; Gary Elliott, CEO of the Aerospace Technology Institute; and senior representatives from Heathrow Airport, Schiphol, the UK Department for Transport, Airbus, TUI and other major aviation organisations.

For ARLink28, attending the summit was particularly important because sustainability must be considered before future airline operations begin, rather than treated as something to address afterwards.

A major area of interest was Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). SAF can reduce lifecycle aviation emissions compared with conventional jet fuel and is expected to play a major role in aviation’s decarbonisation pathway. However, the summit also reinforced that SAF alone will not solve aviation’s environmental challenges; infrastructure, aircraft technology, financing, regulation, operational efficiency and energy systems must develop alongside it.

For Africa, SAF presents both a challenge and an opportunity. The continent has significant renewable-energy potential, agricultural and waste feedstock opportunities, growing aviation demand and the possibility of developing new fuel-production industries rather than remaining dependent entirely on imported aviation energy. With the right investment, regulation, certification and infrastructure, African countries could potentially participate not only as consumers of sustainable aviation fuel but also as producers and exporters within the future global SAF economy.

ARLink28’s purpose in attending Sustainable Skies World Summit was therefore broader than networking. It was about understanding the technologies, regulations, partnerships and investment structures that will shape aviation over the coming decades.

As ARLink28 continues building its aviation foundations, these insights help ensure that sustainability is incorporated into its long-term thinking from the beginning — including future fleet decisions, fuel strategy, airport relationships, operational efficiency and potential partnerships.

The summit reinforced an important principle for ARLink28: the future of African aviation should not simply replicate yesterday’s aviation model. It should have the opportunity to build something cleaner, more efficient and more sustainable from the outset.

Governors including H.E. Peter Mbah of Enugu State and H.E. Agbu Kefas of Taraba State were among the influential public-sector leaders associated with the summit, while awardees and participants also included senior figures from finance, banking, infrastructure, investment, and development institutions.

The summit’s central theme focused on reimagining Africa’s future through purpose-driven leadership and strategic partnerships. Discussions addressed public-private cooperation, intra-African trade, infrastructure development, investment flows, digital transformation, climate-smart finance, and stronger UK-Africa commercial relationships. A dedicated UK-Africa Trade and Business Leaders Roundtable at the House of Lords was designed to connect African CEOs, policymakers, investors, development finance institutions, and UK business leaders around opportunities in sectors including infrastructure, energy, healthcare, agriculture, and technology.

For ARLink28, attending the summit as Founder and CEO was strategically important because the company’s long-term vision depends on far more than aviation alone. Building stronger connectivity across Africa requires relationships with governments, investors, tourism authorities, infrastructure stakeholders, financial institutions, and business leaders who understand the economic importance of movement between African markets.

The summit provided an opportunity to observe directly how African governments and private-sector leaders are thinking about investment, trade, infrastructure, regional integration, and international collaboration. Those conversations are highly relevant to ARLink28’s ambition to strengthen mobility across the continent and to develop travel and aviation services that support tourism, business, investment, and economic connectivity.

Participation also helped position ARLink28 within a wider ecosystem of African leadership and development. Rather than approaching aviation as an isolated industry, the summit reinforced the importance of understanding how transport connects with trade, tourism, infrastructure, finance, diplomacy, and economic development.

For ARLink28, the purpose of attending was therefore both strategic and educational: to build relationships, understand the priorities of African decision-makers, identify potential partnerships, and ensure that the company’s future development remains connected to the broader ambitions of the continent.

The ALM Africa Summit reinforced a principle central to ARLink28’s vision: better African connectivity is not simply a transport objective; it is an economic, social, and strategic opportunity for the continent as a whole.

The wider summit also brought together ministers, governors, central bank leaders, CEOs, and investors from across the continent. Participants included senior figures such as Dr. Ahmed Kouchouk, Egypt’s Minister of Finance; Bihi Iman Egeh, Somalia’s Minister of Finance; Dr. Rama Krishna Sithanen, Governor of the Bank of Mauritius; Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State; and senior representatives from Enugu, Taraba and Akwa Ibom States.

Ethiopian representation was also significant within the wider summit ecosystem. Among the notable Ethiopian-linked participants were Dr. Aklilu Wubet Lemma, CEO of Wegagen Bank, and Harry Anagnostaras-Adams, Executive Chairman of KEFI Gold and Copper Plc, Ethiopia. Ethiopian Airlines was also recognised as African Brand of the Year within the summit’s business leadership awards programme.

For ARLink28, the House of Lords engagement was particularly valuable because it created direct access to conversations around UK–Africa trade, investment, infrastructure, finance, regional integration, and cross-border business development. The dedicated UK–Africa Trade and Business Leaders Roundtable was designed to connect African CEOs, UK investors, policymakers, and development finance institutions around opportunities in sectors including infrastructure, energy, fintech, agriculture, healthcare, and other high-growth industries.

The event also created meaningful relationship-building opportunities for ARLink28. Engagements with Ethiopian delegates were especially important, resulting in a direct invitation to visit Ethiopia and continue discussions there. For ARLink28, that connection was strategically relevant given Ethiopia’s importance within African aviation, regional connectivity, tourism, and the wider East African market.

The purpose of attending was therefore not simply visibility. It was to position ARLink28 within conversations involving governments, investors, financial institutions, and African business leaders whose decisions directly influence transport, tourism, infrastructure, and economic mobility.

The House of Lords summit reinforced a central principle behind ARLink28’s development: aviation connectivity cannot be built in isolation. It depends on policy, investment, trade relationships, tourism, infrastructure, and trusted partnerships across borders.

For ARLink28, participating in the ALM Africa Summit 2025 represented another important step in building those relationships and ensuring that its long-term aviation and travel vision remains connected to the wider economic ambitions of Africa.

For ARLink28, the event was particularly valuable because of the diversity of people present. It created opportunities to engage with aviation professionals from different parts of the world, including representatives connected to African aviation markets. During the summit, ARLink28 was able to engage with individuals from across Africa, including representatives linked to Kenya and professionals associated with Nigeria’s civil aviation environment. These conversations were especially relevant because African aviation faces a unique sustainability challenge: the continent must expand connectivity and capacity while also preparing for the global transition toward lower-carbon aviation.

The event was highly interactive and designed around networking, panels, workshops, roundtables and direct industry engagement. Farnborough International highlights networking as one of the summit’s core strengths, with attendees using the event to connect with decision-makers, regulators, innovators and companies they may not otherwise have direct access to.

For ARLink28, the purpose of attending extended far beyond simply observing sustainability discussions. It provided an opportunity to better understand the technologies, policy frameworks, partnerships and commercial models that will influence the aviation industry in the coming years.

As ARLink28 continues developing its aviation foundations, these insights are particularly important. The organisation is still at a stage where future systems, partnerships and operating principles can be shaped deliberately. Understanding SAF, future propulsion technologies, regulatory expectations, airport infrastructure and emissions-reduction strategies now allows sustainability to be considered at the foundation stage rather than added later as a compliance exercise.

The summit also reinforced the importance of Africa being actively represented in global sustainability conversations. African aviation is expected to grow significantly, and the continent has an opportunity to participate not only as a future consumer of sustainable aviation technology but also through renewable energy, SAF production, infrastructure development and innovation.

For ARLink28, Sustainable Skies World Summit 2026 therefore represented an important learning and relationship-building platform — connecting the company with the wider global aviation ecosystem while helping shape a long-term approach to aviation that is commercially viable, environmentally responsible and relevant to Africa’s future connectivity needs.

ARLink28 was represented across both days of the summit, creating an opportunity to engage directly with professionals from a wide range of industries and markets. The environment was particularly valuable because it was not limited to aviation alone. It brought together the wider ecosystem that affects how African businesses grow, including finance, policy, infrastructure, trade, investment, technology, and logistics.

For ARLink28, this was strategically important. The company’s long-term ambition to strengthen travel and aviation connectivity across Africa depends on much more than aircraft or routes. It also requires strong relationships with investors, policymakers, tourism stakeholders, infrastructure providers, corporate organisations, and institutions that influence how people, capital, and businesses move across the continent.

The summit also created space for meaningful networking and relationship-building. ARLink28 was able to make new contacts, engage with potential collaborators, exchange ideas, and gain a better understanding of how other African businesses and leaders are approaching growth, innovation, and regional expansion. That type of engagement is valuable at ARLink28’s current stage because every credible relationship contributes to a stronger commercial and institutional network.

The scale of the summit reinforced that value. Organisers reported more than 1,000 participants, with representation from dozens of countries, strategic partners, and exhibitors.

For ARLink28, the purpose of attending ABLS 2026 was therefore threefold: to learn, to connect, and to position the company within the wider African business ecosystem.

The summit supported ARLink28’s broader philosophy that African connectivity must be built through collaboration. Aviation, tourism, trade, investment, infrastructure, and leadership are interconnected, and stronger movement across Africa will require cooperation between all of them.

Attending both days of ABLS 2026 provided ARLink28 with another opportunity to deepen its understanding of that ecosystem while building relationships that may support the company’s continued growth across the continent.

The Harare edition formed part of the wider Spotlight TravelExpo programme, which creates practical business-to-business networking opportunities for travel professionals across the continent. The event brought together a diverse range of tourism organisations, including hotels, travel agencies, destination representatives and airlines. Published exhibitor information included organisations such as the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, South African Airways, and hospitality brands participating in the regional travel ecosystem.

The purpose of attending was not simply to gain visibility. It was to identify genuine commercial opportunities for ARLink28’s travel and tourism operations, particularly in areas such as hotel and resort partnerships, destination packages, tour operator relationships, regional travel services and future collaboration with tourism stakeholders.

The event proved particularly valuable from a relationship-building perspective. Delroy was able to engage with industry professionals, establish new contacts, develop friendships within the tourism community and open conversations that could potentially develop into future partnership opportunities. While not every conversation immediately becomes a formal agreement, these early relationships are important because many successful commercial partnerships begin through direct engagement, trust and consistent follow-up.

For ARLink28, events such as Spotlight TravelExpo are especially relevant because the company is continuing to expand its travel-service offering alongside its broader aviation ambitions. Building a strong hospitality and tourism network gives ARLink28 access to products, destination knowledge, supplier relationships and market intelligence that can later support wider travel packages and regional connectivity.

The Harare event also provided insight into Zimbabwe’s travel market. Spotlight specifically targets local travel agents and tour operators selling domestic, regional and international travel, giving participants the opportunity to understand what Zimbabwean customers are buying, which destinations are in demand and where commercial gaps may exist.

Delroy’s participation was therefore a successful step for ARLink28. His ability to communicate, network and build genuine relationships helped create new points of contact that the company can continue developing over time.

For ARLink28, the wider purpose of attending Spotlight TravelExpo Harare was clear: to strengthen its presence within the African travel ecosystem, build relationships before they are needed, identify future partnership opportunities and deepen its understanding of Southern African tourism markets.

The event reinforced an important part of ARLink28’s strategy: sustainable expansion across Africa begins with relationships, local market knowledge and trusted commercial connections.

The aircraft displays were one of the strongest parts of the event. The flying and static programmes featured a wide range of commercial, military, experimental, and next-generation aircraft. Among those announced were the Airbus A350-1000, U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II, RAF Eurofighter Typhoon, Bombardier Global 8000, Embraer C-390 Millennium, BETA Technologies CX300, Vertical Aerospace VA-1X, Saab 340B, and historic aircraft such as the Rolls-Royce Vickers Supermarine Spitfire PR.Mk.XIX and P-51D Mustang. Static displays also included aircraft such as the Embraer E195-E2, JAS-39 Gripen, DHL Boeing 777-200LRMF, GE Aerospace Boeing 747-400, and other advanced platforms.

The exhibition halls were equally important. Major companies including Airbus, Boeing, Embraer, Rolls-Royce, Pratt & Whitney, BAE Systems, MBDA, GE Aerospace, and numerous aerospace technology, defence, propulsion, and supply-chain organisations showcased products, systems, aircraft interiors, engineering capability, defence technologies, and future aviation concepts.

It was also particularly encouraging to see African representation. Enugu Air from Nigeria was present at Farnborough 2026, using the event to engage with manufacturers, investors, regulators, and other international aviation stakeholders. Seeing an emerging Nigerian airline represented on such a global platform was an important reminder that African aviation is increasingly participating in the wider international aerospace conversation.

For ARLink28, the purpose of attending was strategic. Farnborough provided direct exposure to aircraft manufacturers, aviation technology, defence and aerospace innovation, future fleet options, sustainability developments, financing conversations, and the commercial relationships that shape the global aviation industry.

At ARLink28’s current stage, this kind of engagement is especially valuable because it allows the company to understand the industry before future aircraft operations begin. It provides insight into how airlines are built, how fleets are selected, how manufacturers position their products, how aviation technology is evolving, and how partnerships are created at the highest level.

The experience reinforced ARLink28’s long-term approach: build knowledge, relationships, regulatory understanding, and commercial foundations before the aircraft arrive. Farnborough International Airshow 2026 was therefore not simply an event to attend; it was an opportunity to study the global aviation ecosystem firsthand and bring those insights back into ARLink28’s wider vision for African connectivity.

The Dar es Salaam edition took place at Johari Rotana, with the main TravelExpo running from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM, followed by networking over drinks and snacks. Organisers expected approximately 125–150 attendees, creating an environment focused on direct trade engagement rather than a large-scale public exhibition.

What made the event particularly significant for ARLink28 was the recognition the brand had already begun to receive. Some participants and tourism suppliers recognised ARLink28 not because they personally knew Ezra, but because they had previously encountered the company’s branding and representation through Delroy’s attendance at the earlier Spotlight TravelExpo in Zimbabwe.

For ARLink28, recognition across separate events and countries demonstrates the value of consistent representation, professional branding, and repeated engagement within the African travel ecosystem. Trust in travel and tourism is rarely created through one conversation alone. It develops when organisations repeatedly appear in the right environments, engage professionally, follow up responsibly, and demonstrate that they are serious about building long-term relationships.

Ezra’s participation therefore helped continue a relationship-building process that had already begun elsewhere.

The event also exposed ARLink28 to different parts of the tourism value chain. Spotlight TravelExpos are structured around suppliers such as hotels, resorts, safari lodges, tourism organisations, airlines, car-hire companies, tour operators, and other tourism products, connecting them directly with buyers and travel professionals.

For ARLink28, the purpose of attending was clear: to strengthen relationships, identify future partnership opportunities, understand the East African travel market more deeply, and continue positioning the company as a credible participant within Africa’s wider tourism and aviation ecosystem.

The event was also valuable from a commercial-development perspective. Conversations created potential pathways for future cooperation with hotels, safari operators, aviation businesses, and tourism suppliers without prematurely presenting those discussions as confirmed partnerships.

Overall, Ezra’s attendance was highly successful. He represented ARLink28 professionally, built new relationships, strengthened existing brand recognition, and contributed to the company’s growing presence across East and Southern Africa.

The Dar es Salaam Spotlight TravelExpo reinforced an important lesson for ARLink28: recognition is built through consistency, and trust is built through repeated, meaningful engagement. Every event, introduction, conversation, and follow-up contributes to making ARLink28 a more familiar and credible name within Africa’s travel and aviation industry.