The Senior Leadership of IATA Arrives on a Historic Visit to Mogadishu

Mogadishu – The Deputy President for Africa and the Middle East of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Kamil H. Al-Awadhi, and a delegation he leads arrived today on an official visit to the capital, Mogadishu.

This visit is historic, as it is the first time Somalia has hosted a high-level delegation from the leadership of IATA, which demonstrates the progress made in the country's civil aviation system and the strengthening of Somalia's relationship with international aviation organizations.

The Director General of the Somali Civil Aviation Authority, Axmed Macallin Xasan, welcomed the delegation at Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu. He stated that the visit reflects the progress Somalia has made in the air transport system and its relationship with international organizations.

“Our country has made rapid progress related to the international aviation system. That is what has brought about this historic visit of the senior leadership of IATA to Mogadishu today,” said Director Axmed Macallin Xasan. The IATA delegation's visit is also related to the reinstatement of the international airline ticketing system IATA-BSP, which Somalia is reactivating for the first time since the country's collapse.

The IATA-BSP system is an international framework that facilitates the sale and management of airline tickets, while also helping to strengthen the relationship between airlines and travel agencies. Its reinstatement is expected to create new opportunities for Somalia to enhance aviation services and facilitate the connection between the country and the world.

An event related to the restoration of the IATA-BSP system and strengthening the 35-year partnership between the Somali Civil Aviation Authority and IATA is set to take place tomorrow, October 18, 2026, in Mogadishu. The event will also showcase the progress made by the Somali Civil Aviation Authority and the next phase of its plan, which relates to the preparation for the inspection and evaluation by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

The welcoming of the IATA delegation was attended by the Deputy Director of the Somali Civil Aviation Authority, Ayuub Cabdullaahi Ibraahim; officials from the authority; the IATA representative from the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation of Somalia, Engineer Mursal Maxamed Cabdi; the Vice President of the Somali Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies (SATTA), Maxamed Abukar Maxamed; and the Deputy Chairman of IBS Bank, Cabdirisaaq Cali Warsame.

This visit comes at a time when Somalia is striving to improve civil aviation services, reactivating international systems, and strengthening its cooperation with international aviation agencies and organizations.