The aviation industry in Africa has continued to perform strongly with increased passenger traffic and operational efficiency, the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) has reported.
AFRAA in a statement noted that key drivers of the robust performance included expanded routes, better connectivity, and rising domestic and international travel demands.
Regarding seat availability in Global Africa, the report said, there was a seven per cent increase - from 16 million seats in July 2023 to 17 million seats in July 2024.
‘’Intra-Africa routes also saw a three per cent rise in seat availability during the same period, attributed to the introduction of new routes, network expansion, and fleet upgrades,” noted the continental aviation body founded in Accra, Ghana in 1958 and headquartered in Nairobi.
AFRAA estimates a 15 per cent growth in passenger traffic for African airlines this year compared to 2023.
The aviation lobby predicts a capacity split of 50.1 per cent on international routes for African carriers and 49.9 per cent for non-African airlines.
On intercontinental routes, Africa holds 37.1 per cent of the capacity, with non-African carriers dominating 62.9 per cent.
“Connectivity within Africa continues to expand, with major hubs like Addis Ababa, Johannesburg, Lusaka and Lomé experiencing significant increases in connections. African airlines are reporting improved passenger revenue, reflecting the overall traffic growth,” noted AFRAA.
AFRAA data indicated that passenger revenue in May 2024 reached $1.66 billion (Sh214 billion), up by four per cent from $1.59 billion (Sh205 billion) in April 2023.
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