Airlines from across Africa urged deeper strategic partnerships with global carriers and institutional investors at the 5th Türkiye-Africa Business & Economic Forum in Istanbul (Oct 16–17, 2025), arguing that short-term bank loans and blocked funds are strangling expansion plans. The push, described by stakeholders in a The EastAfrican feature, proposes joint ventures, equity investment and asset-finance vehicles to bring stable, long-term capital to the continent’s carriers.
Speakers singled out the Türkiye Wealth Fund (TWF), which holds a large stake in Turkish Airlines, as an example of how sovereign or fund capital can be leveraged to back regional airline partnerships that reduce financing risk and speed fleet renewal. Industry experts at the forum argued Africa needs tailored aviation asset finance and leasing solutions, not short-dated commercial loans.
Why partnerships are rising up the agenda
African carriers face structural financing constraints: limited access to long-term asset finance, blocked repatriation of foreign revenues, and rising costs from supply-chain delays and maintenance backlogs. These pressures have left some state and private carriers running older fleets and missing growth opportunities. IATA’s 2025 analysis highlights how supply-chain strains and higher operating costs are squeezing airline margins globally, magnifying the need for reliable long-term capital in regions such as Africa.
Forms of partnerships being discussed
- Strategic equity and JV deals: Airlines and governments discussed minority equity stakes and joint-venture route partnerships to share risk and market access.
- Sovereign-fund or state-backed finance: Speakers cited TWF’s role in Turkey as a model for how sovereign funds can catalyse aviation investment. The TWF holds a major stake in Turkish Airlines and has become central to Ankara’s logistics strategy.
- Regional leasing / asset vehicles: Delegates urged creation of Africa-focused leasing platforms and blended finance structures to de-risk aircraft purchases and sustain fleet modernisation. Industry commentators have previously highlighted a financing gap for African carriers that makes traditional leasing harder to obtain.
Risks and caveats
Partnerships can bring capital but raise questions on governance, market concentration and bilateral rights. Airlines and regulators must navigate traffic-rights, foreign-ownership rules and competitive safeguards. Experts at the forum also warned that relying on a single external fund or carrier exposes airlines to geopolitical shifts and commercial strategy changes.
Quick timeline
- TABEF Istanbul forum (Oct 16–17, 2025): Africa–Türkiye business roundtables included aviation financing sessions.
- TWF background: Türkiye Wealth Fund owns a substantial stake in Turkish Airlines (49.12%), illustrating sovereign fund influence in aviation.
- Industry context: IATA and Oliver Wyman warn supply-chain strains and higher costs could add ~$11bn of pressure across airlines in 2025, increasing the urgency for secure financing.
Policy and regional history
Longstanding African policy goals such as the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) envisage liberalised intra-African connectivity and pooled procurement, but progress is uneven. Financing and bilateral regulatory constraints have limited SAATM’s full realisation; the forum dialogue signals renewed effort to combine private capital, sovereign support and regulatory reform to unlock the continent’s aviation potential.
What’s next? industry outlook
- Near term: Expect more MOUs and feasibility studies linking African carriers with foreign flag carriers or funds. Those will need careful public disclosure and regulatory review.
- Medium term: If structured well, pooled leasing vehicles and sovereign investments could accelerate fleet renewal and regional MRO capacity development, reducing long-term operating costs.
- Watchpoints: Governments must clear blocked funds and modernise bilateral agreements to ensure commercial deals translate into sustainable connectivity and jobs. IATA’s warnings on supply chains and revenue repatriation make policy follow-through essential.
Sources
- Julians Amboko, African airlines seek partnerships to keep flying, The EastAfrican, 23 Oct 2025.
- TABEF 2025 (Türkiye–Africa Business & Economic Forum), agenda and sessions.
- Türkiye Wealth Fund (TWF) portfolio, ownership details showing stake in Turkish Airlines.
- Reuters archive on stake transfer to Turkey’s sovereign wealth fund (background on TWF and Turkish Airlines).
- IATA / Oliver Wyman report and IATA press releases on supply-chain costs and aviation financing pressures (Oct 2025).
