The African Business Aviation Association (AfBAA) has launched four new membership categories as well as detailing its founding members.

AfBAA already has fully funded commitment from 18 out of 20 founding members, including international and African businesses, and is now working through a selection process to finalise the last two.

"We noted that a number of companies we would have welcomed as founding members were unable to apply originally for a variety of reasons.

"As we value their input and the potential support they can offer, AfBAA will now encourage them to apply for 'launch member' status," says Tarek Ragheb, founder and chairman. In addition, interested parties will be able to apply for the newly-formed 'normal' and 'affiliate' membership types.

As the association looks to the future, a new leadership group has been formed which features leading figureheads from African business aviation nominated by the founding members. The board will be led by Ragheb, with Ivor Ichikowitz of Paramount Group, South Africa, as vice chairman and treasurer, who will be supported by four sub-committees each with their own remit and elected chairperson.

Overseeing the association's operations will be Rady Fahmy, former programme director, newly promoted to the role of executive director.