Kamil H. Al-Awadhi, the Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East at the International Air Transport Association (IATA), arrived in the capital, Mogadishu, today leading a delegation on an official visit.
This visit is historic, as it marks the first time Somalia has hosted a high-level delegation from IATA’s leadership. It underscores the progress made in the country’s civil aviation sector and the strengthening of Somalia’s ties with international aviation organizations.
Ahmed Moallin Hassan, Director General of the Somali Civil Aviation Authority, welcomed the delegation at Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu. He noted that the visit reflects the advancements Somalia has achieved in its civil aviation system and its growing engagement with international bodies.
“Our country has made rapid progress regarding the international aviation system. This is what has led to today’s historic visit by the senior leadership of IATA to Mogadishu,” said Director General Ahmed Moallin Hassan. The visit by the IATA delegation is also linked to the reinstatement of the IATA Billing and Settlement Plan (IATA-BSP)—a global airline ticketing system—which Somalia is reactivating for the first time since the country’s collapse.
The IATA-BSP is a global framework that facilitates the sale and management of airline tickets, while helping to strengthen the relationship between airlines and travel agencies. Its reinstatement is expected to create new opportunities for Somalia to develop aviation services and enhance the country’s connectivity with the rest of the world.
An event marking the reinstatement of the IATA-BSP and the strengthening of the 35-year-old partnership between the Somali Civil Aviation Authority and IATA is scheduled to take place tomorrow, October 18, 2026, in Mogadishu. The event will also showcase the progress achieved by the Somali Civil Aviation Authority, as well as the next phase of its strategic plan, which focuses on preparations for an audit and assessment by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
The IATA delegation was welcomed by the Deputy Director of the Somali Civil Aviation Authority, Ayuub Abdullahi Ibrahim; officials from the Authority; the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation’s liaison to IATA, Engineer Mursal Mohamed Abdi; the Vice President of the Somali Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies (SATTA), Mohamed Abukar Mohamed; and the Deputy Chairman of IBS Bank, Abdirisaaq Ali Warsame.
This visit comes at a time when Somalia is actively working to develop its civil aviation services, reactivate international systems, and strengthen its cooperation with global aviation organizations and institutions.
