Africa defies global aviation slowdown as passenger demand rises despite Middle East war — IATA

May 29, 2026 in Business, Travel & Tourism by Editor

African airlines recorded a 2.2% rise in passenger demand in April 2026, defying a wider global aviation slowdown caused by the Middle East conflict that dragged worldwide air travel demand down 3.4%, according to IATA.

African airlines posted passenger growth in April 2026 even as the global aviation industry suffered a sharp slowdown triggered by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, according to new data released by International Air Transport Association.

The latest industry numbers showed that African carriers recorded a 2.2pc year-on-year increase in passenger demand during April, making the continent one of the few regions to maintain positive growth amid growing global volatility.

During the same period, African airlines expanded capacity by 1.2pc while average passenger load factors rose to 77.9pc, an improvement of 0.7 percentage points compared to April 2025.

Africa’s performance contrasted sharply with the broader global market, where airlines collectively reported a 3.4pc decline in passenger demand and a 2.9pc contraction in capacity as the aviation sector grappled with the fallout from the Middle East conflict and surging fuel costs.

According to IATA, the crisis in the Middle East had an especially severe impact on regional carriers, with airlines in the region suffering a dramatic 46.6pc collapse in passenger demand during April.

“The 46.6pc fall in demand for carriers in the Middle East due to war in the region was so acute that it dragged overall demand down 3.4pc,” said Willie Walsh.

“The situation for air transport remains highly volatile. The cost of jet fuel more than doubled in April, which is pushing airfares up. Forward schedule data is showing a reduced offering in the coming months, indicating that airlines are balancing high fuel costs and weaker demand,” he added.

Globally, international passenger demand fell 5.3pc year-on-year, although IATA noted that if Middle Eastern markets were excluded, international demand would have still grown by 1.9pc.

While Africa’s growth remained relatively modest compared to regions such as Latin America, which recorded an 8.9pc increase in international demand, analysts say the continent’s resilience is notable given ongoing economic pressures, currency volatility, and infrastructure limitations affecting several African markets.

The data also highlighted changing global travel patterns as airlines and passengers increasingly reroute away from conflict-affected airspace. IATA noted that direct traffic between Europe and Asia rose strongly during the period as airlines shifted away from routes transiting through the Middle East.

IATA, which represents more than 370 airlines accounting for roughly 85pc of global air traffic, said the outlook for the industry remains uncertain as carriers navigate rising operational costs, geopolitical instability, and fluctuating consumer demand.