African Airlines' Passenger Traffic Soars by 20.7%
The African aviation sector is currently experiencing a remarkable surge, with a 20.7% year-on-year increase in international passenger traffic. This growth is being led by key players such as Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Egyptair, Royal Air Maroc, and Air Senegal, highlighting a robust recovery and expanding capacity across the continent.
This upward trend, reported by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), comes as the world gradually emerges from the pandemic's shadows, positioning Africa's airlines for an exciting future. The continent's capacity has expanded by an impressive 22.1% over the year, outpacing the global average and signaling a significant leap forward for African aviation.
However, it's not all clear skies. Despite the spike in demand and capacity, load factors—a measure of how efficiently an airline fills seats—have seen a slight decline to 74%. This dip contrasts with the overall positive momentum but is an important metric for airlines as they navigate the balance between capacity and demand.
Optimism Amid Challenges
IATA's Director General, Willie Walsh, expresses a positive outlook for Africa's travel sector. With resilient passenger demand and increased investments in airports and airlines, the continent is poised for sustained growth. Yet, Walsh also cautions against the potential headwinds of new taxes in Europe, which could impact not only Africa's aviation growth but also global industry dynamics by possibly driving up ticket prices.
Domestic and International Growth Highlights
African domestic operations have also seen significant growth, surpassing pre-pandemic levels by 13.7%, with a 15% increase in operations from 2023 to 2024. Notably, international operations towards Asia and the Pacific have led the charge, with travel demand between these regions and Africa soaring by over 53.2%.
Ethiopian Airlines: Africa's Leading Carrier
At the forefront of this growth is Ethiopian Airlines, which continues to dominate as Africa's largest airline. With an ambitious expansion plan, the airline is set to operate up to 78 destinations across the continent this year alone, further enhancing its network with new routes to Freetown, Sierra Leone, and Maun, Botswana.
For travelers heading to North America, Ethiopian offers up to 37 weekly flights connecting Ethiopia with key cities across the continent. With plans to introduce two additional North American destinations annually, the airline is clearly focused on broadening its global footprint, underlining the strategic importance of Africa in the global aviation landscape.