Africa’s aviation market is expanding faster than many regions of the world, yet the continent still accounts for only about 2.2 per cent of global passenger traffic, as high operating costs, fragmented markets, infrastructure gaps and restrictive travel policies continue to limit its share of international air travel.
Although passenger demand across Africa has continued to rise, the continent remains a relatively small in the global aviation industry compared with North America, Europe and Asia, according to industry data released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
IATA data show African airlines have recorded some of the strongest passenger growth rates globally in recent years. The association said scheduled airline capacity across the continent has risen to more than 26 million seats as international travel recovers airlines and add frequencies on regional and international routes.
Despite the growth, Africa’s contribution to global passenger traffic has remained modest because the continent’s aviation market is spread across 54 separate national markets, each operating under different regulatory systems, taxes and bilateral air service agreements.
Unlike the United States, China or India, which benefit from large domestic aviation markets, Africa has no single market with comparable passenger volumes. Instead, airlines operate across multiple jurisdictions with different policies, making expansion more difficult and expensive.
Connectivity also remains a major challenge. Industry studies indicate that only about one in every five intra-African routes is served by a direct flight, making many passengers travelling between neighbouring African countries to connect through hubs outside the continent.
Visa restrictions also affects passenger movement as well. According to IATA, almost 46 per cent of travel within Africa still requires a traditional visa, creating additional barriers for passengers and reducing demand on regional routes.
Kamil Alawadhi, IATA regional vice-president for Africa and the Middle East, said governments across the continent have continued to impose taxes, levies and charges that make air travel unnecessarily expensive.
“Governments in Africa are very disconnected from the aviation industry,” Alawadhi said during the Aviation Africa 2025 Summit in Kigali.
He said airlines operating in Africa earn an average profit of only about $1 per passenger, compared with significantly higher returns in other regions, adding that between 60 and 70 per cent of the average ticket price on many African routes is made up of taxes, airport charges and government levies rather than airline operating revenue.
According to him, the continent’s aviation industry is also burdened by expensive airport infrastructure, poor air navigation services and operating costs that are considerably higher than global averages.
Whether it’s visa policy, airport investment or regulatory reform, the choices being made now will shape the future of aviation in Africa,” Alawadhi said.
Industry data also show that airport taxes and passenger charges across Africa remain among the highest globally, increasing ticket prices and limiting passenger demand despite the continent’s growing population and expanding middle class.
The situation has affected airline profitability across the continent. IATA projects that African airlines will generate only about $200 million in combined net profits in 2026, a small fraction of the more than $41 billion expected globally.
Regional aviation authorities said that policy reforms remain essential if Africa is to convert its strong passenger demand into a larger share of global traffic.
Adefunke Adeyemi, secretary-general of the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), said full implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) remains one of the most important steps toward improving connectivity across the continent.
SAATM is not only transforming air connectivity, it is redefining how Africa moves, trades and grows together as one aviation market, Adeyemi said.
She has also identified improvements in airport infrastructure, harmonise aviation regulations and lower operating costs as critical requirements for expanding air transport across Africa.
The SAATM initiative seeks to remove restrictions on air services among African countries, encourage competition and improve access to regional markets, but implementation has remained uneven across the continent.
While African airlines continue to add capacity and passenger numbers keep rising, industry leaders maintain that sustained investment in airport infrastructure, lower government charges, improved connectivity and easier cross-border travel will determine whether the continent can increase its share of global air traffic beyond the current 2.2 per cent.
