International airlines have expanded their presence in Africa by increasing their capacity in the region, leveraging the continent’s economic potential, growing population, and rising demand for air travel.
This expansion reflects increasing demand for air travel, improved connectivity, and ongoing investments in infrastructure and airline collaborations, reinforcing Africa’s position as a key market for global aviation.
Airline capacity, referring to the total number of seats available on an airline’s flights over a given period, is a crucial factor in airline operations. It impacts profitability, ticket prices, and overall efficiency.
The OAG’s TAKEOFF report for 2024 provides insights into airline capacity trends in 2023 and 2024, analyzing growth and recovery. The report examines domestic and international capacity, flight frequency, ASKs (Available Seat Kilometers), and route operations, offering year-on-year comparisons.
The OAG report found that leading airlines increased their capacity in Africa, indicating a strengthened market.
Investments in airport infrastructure, airline partnerships, and policy initiatives like SAATM have enhanced competition, reduced fares, and improved connectivity, benefiting airlines like Emirates, Qatar, and Turkish Airlines.
The global aviation industry in 2024
IATA’s 2024 passenger market report showed total traffic rising 10.4% from 2023, surpassing pre-pandemic levels by 3.8%. Capacity grew by 8.7%, with international traffic increasing by 13.6% and domestic traffic by 5.7%.
Airlines responded efficiently, achieving an all-time high load factor of 83.5%, partly due to supply chain constraints. He emphasized aviation’s broader economic impact, including job creation, trade, and innovation.
December 2024 saw strong performance, with demand up 8.6% year-on-year. International demand rose by 10.6%, domestic by 5.5%, and the load factor hit a record 84% for the month.
According to OAG’s TAKEOFF: Data Insights on the World’s Major Airlines report for 2024, the following international airlines recorded the largest flight capacity in the African region during the year;
| Rank | Airline | Total Capacity | Africa region |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Ryanair |
209,613,290 |
5,322,493 |
|
2 |
Emirate |
71,751,102 |
4,320,219 |
|
3 |
Turkish Airline |
81,554,404 |
3,481,401 |
|
4 |
Qatar |
55,369,527 |
3,207,928 |
|
5 |
Easyjet |
102,499,409 |
2.583,938 |
|
6 |
British Airways |
57,670,691 |
1.322.734 |
|
7 |
Lufthansa |
75,024,876 |
1,249,268 |
|
8 |
Delta |
239,908,388 |
378,861 |
|
9 |
United Airlines |
212,889,710 |
270,986 |
|
10 |
Air Canada |
57,157,408 |
78,122 |
The table ranks the world’s top 10 airlines by their capacity in the African region. 2024.
Although Delta Air Lines has the highest total capacity at 239.9 million seats, followed by United Airlines and Ryanair, in the African market, Ryanair leads with 5.3 million seats, followed by Emirates, Turkish Airlines, and Qatar Airways, reflecting their strong regional presence.
European and Middle Eastern airlines dominate Africa’s aviation market, while North American carriers like Delta, United, and Air Canada have minimal operations in the region despite their large global capacity.
