Journeys with Sanjeev Gadhia

In this episode of the Journey Series, we dive into the Journey of Sanjeev Gadhia - Founder and CEO of Astral Aviation. Sanjeev shares his experience and the realities of running an airline in Africa, where survival is never guaranteed and compliance is a daily battle. Having successfully run the airline for over 25 years, he reflects on what it takes to build resilience and longevity in one of the world’s most highly regulated industries. Drawing from his background in banking, he shares how financial discipline, strict compliance, and risk management became the foundation of his entrepreneurial journey in aviation. These lessons proved critical in an environment where access to financing for African airlines remains extremely limited. The conversation unpacks the harsh funding realities facing aviation entrepreneurs from reluctant banks and outdated risk models to the heavy reliance on leased, aging aircraft. He also highlights the imbalance in government support, where national carriers often receive priority while private operators and smaller airlines vital to jobs, connectivity, and tourism are left to struggle.

This episode offers a candid look at the financial, regulatory, and structural challenges slowing aviation growth in Africa, and why meaningful support, better financing options, and context-driven risk assessment are essential for the sector’s future.