The African aviation sector is showing encouraging signs of recovery, with airlines recording a 10.4% increase in international passenger demand in October 2024 compared to the same period last year.
This growth demonstrates the progress the industry has made in rebuilding after global disruptions in recent years.
In response to the rising demand, airline capacity in Africa expanded by 5.3%, achieved by adding more flights or using larger aircraft.
The efficiency of operations also improved, with the load factor—the percentage of seats filled on flights—rising to 73.2%, an increase of 3.4 percentage points from October 2023.
This information comes from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) report, which tracks trends in global passenger markets. The report highlighted that African airlines are steadily strengthening their market presence, benefiting from growing traveller confidence and the region’s resilience.
“African airlines saw a 10.4% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity was up 5.3% year-on-year. The load factor rose to 73.2% (+3.4ppt compared to October 2023),” the report read in part.
Globally, the aviation industry also experienced robust growth. Passenger demand rose by 7.1% year-on-year, while capacity grew by 6.1%. The global load factor reached 83.9%, up by 0.8 percentage points compared to October 2023.
Asia-Pacific airlines led the global recovery, with a 17.5% increase in international passenger demand, followed by Latin American airlines, which saw a 10.9% rise. European carriers recorded an 8.7% increase, while North American and Middle Eastern airlines saw more moderate growth at 3.2% and 2.2%, respectively.
The steady recovery of African airlines, coupled with increasing global demand, reflects positive momentum in the aviation industry. With improved capacity and rising load factors, African carriers are positioned to play a more active role in the global air travel market.
