Growing investments in Africa’s oil and gas industry are creating fresh demand for specialised aviation services, as energy companies increasingly require faster and more flexible mobility to access offshore fields, project locations and investment centres across the continent.

VivaJets, a business aviation firm and subsidiary of Falcon Aerospace Limited, said it was expanding its operational capacity to provide specialised mobility services to oil and gas companies and other stakeholders in Africa’s energy sector.

The company said the growing scale of offshore exploration, gas development initiatives and major energy infrastructure projects had increased the need for reliable aviation services capable of connecting key industry locations where conventional commercial aviation might be inadequate.

Speaking at the 2026 Africa Energy Week (AEW) in Cape Town, South Africa, VivaJets Chief Executive Officer, Erika Achum, said seamless cross-border mobility was becoming increasingly important to unlocking Africa’s energy investment potential.

Achum, who participated in panel discussions at the event, said business aviation was increasingly connecting energy-producing regions, financial centres and project locations, particularly where limitations in commercial aviation infrastructure created operational challenges.

He said the implementation of frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) would further increase the need for efficient transportation and connectivity across African markets.

According to him, business aviation should be regarded as critical infrastructure for facilitating trade and investment rather than merely a premium travel service.

“Seamless cross-border mobility is vital to unlocking Africa’s full energy potential. As trade and investment accelerate under frameworks like the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), business aviation is serving as the connective tissue linking major energy basins, financial capitals and project sites, often overcoming barriers limiting commercial aviation,” he said.

Achum said the company’s partnership with Africa Energy Week for the second consecutive time reflected its growing ambition to support the continent’s energy industry.

He added that the speed, accessibility and flexibility offered by business aviation could help energy companies navigate complex transactions and project operations across different jurisdictions.

The company’s Chief Operating Officer, Tejumade Salami, said the operational demands of the energy industry required aviation providers capable of delivering reliable and flexible transportation services.

Salami said VivaJets was increasing its capacity and developing services specifically designed to support the logistics requirements of oil, gas and renewable energy projects across Africa and beyond.

“At VivaJets, we are increasing our capacity and developing services specifically designed to support the demanding logistics of oil, gas and renewable energy projects across Africa and beyond.

“As VivaJets expands its fleet and regional hubs, our focus remains on delivering safe, flexible and seamless air mobility for every stakeholder driving Africa’s energy future,” Salami said.

The company’s expansion drive has included establishing operational bases along strategic regional corridors, fleet expansion and international partnerships.

Among its recent investments is a joint venture with Flybird Aviation to establish Aruba-based Orient Jets, as well as a $10m credit investment from London-based TLG Capital.

Beyond expanding its operational capacity, VivaJets has also intensified advocacy for the removal of regulatory and operational barriers restricting aviation connectivity across Africa.

At the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, Rwanda, in May 2026, Achum urged African leaders to move beyond policy commitments and implement practical measures to improve connectivity and facilitate economic integration across the continent.

He said improved aviation connectivity would be critical to businesses operating across multiple African jurisdictions, particularly energy companies whose projects require frequent movement of personnel between exploration sites, financial centres and other operational locations.