Meet the owners/operators of private airports in Africa

Private participation in Africa’s airport sector is expanding, but remains structurally limited compared to global aviation markets.

Most airports across the continent are still state-owned, with private capital entering primarily through concessions, public-private partnerships (PPPs), and long-term infrastructure leases rather than outright ownership.

This model has attracted a growing pool of investors ranging from pension funds and infrastructure managers to construction conglomerates and global airport operators.

The small presence of private operators comes against the backdrop of a continent that accounts for only about 2–3% of global air traffic despite its population size. Africa’s aviation industry is constrained by high operating costs, limited intra-regional connectivity, and uneven infrastructure quality, even as passenger demand continues to rise steadily.

As governments seek to modernize transport infrastructure without overburdening public finances, airport concessions have become a key policy tool. The result is a fragmented but gradually evolving ecosystem where state ownership remains dominant, but operational control and capital deployment are increasingly shared with private investors.

Managers- Diori Hamani International Airport (NIM)

Fatih Bora is a Turkish businessman and infrastructure investor, serving as President of FB Group, a company focused on long-term investments across airports, energy, hospitality, and mining, with a growing footprint in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Bora is part of the second generation of the family behind SUMMA, the international engineering and construction firm founded in 1989 by his father, Mete Bora. He previously held ownership and leadership roles within SUMMA, contributing to its expansion across Europe, Central Asia, and Africa, where the company delivered large-scale infrastructure projects, including airports, stadiums, hotels, and government complexes.

FB Group was established as a spin-off from SUMMA to separate long-term infrastructure investments from construction activities, allowing for more flexible capital deployment and asset management. Under Bora’s leadership, the group has focused on acquiring and operating infrastructure assets in emerging markets, particularly in aviation.

Through its subsidiaries, including DHIA SARL, FB Group operates Diori Hamani International Airport under a concession agreement, following its redevelopment by SUMMA since May 2019. The group is also involved in other airport concessions in Africa, positioning itself as a growing private-sector operator in the region’s aviation infrastructure space.

The airport was redeveloped by SUMMA, which financed and executed the upgrade as part of a broader push to expand private-sector participation in Niger’s aviation infrastructure. The project included terminal modernization and operational enhancements aimed at improving passenger experience, safety standards, and airport capacity.

The company has also secured airport concessions in markets such as Senegal and Sierra Leone.