Zambia Airways Limited has appointed Aman Wole Gurmu as its new chief executive officer, effective Aug. 1, 2026 [1].
The appointment signals a strategic move by the national flag carrier to modernize its operations. By recruiting an executive with deep ties to one of Africa's most successful aviation hubs, Zambia seeks to improve its regional connectivity and operational efficiency.
Gurmu brings more than 19 years [2] of international aviation experience to the role. Some reports describe his tenure in the industry as nearly two decades [3]. His background is primarily rooted in the Ethiopian aviation sector, and the announcement of his new role was issued from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia [1].
Zambia Airways intends to leverage Gurmu's expertise to drive growth for the airline [2]. The carrier is looking to expand its reach, and strengthen its position within the competitive African aviation market. The move comes as several nations in the region attempt to revitalize their state-owned carriers to better support trade and tourism.
While the official announcement was reported on Aug. 15, 2026 [2], the appointment was backdated to the start of the month [1]. Gurmu's transition to the Zambian carrier marks a significant cross-border executive shift in the industry [3].
The airline has not released specific targets for the coming year, but the focus remains on leveraging international experience to stabilize and grow the fleet's utility [2].
“Zambia Airways Limited has appointed Aman Wole Gurmu as its new chief executive officer.”
The appointment of an Ethiopian aviation veteran suggests that Zambia Airways is modeling its growth strategy after the Ethiopian Airlines blueprint, which is widely regarded as the gold standard for aviation success in Africa. By importing leadership from Addis Ababa, Zambia is likely prioritizing the establishment of a more robust hub-and-spoke network to increase passenger traffic and cargo efficiency.
