Africa’s airlines extend growth momentum as October passenger demand rises 7.3p

December 3, 2025 in Companies, Transport, Travel & Tourism by Editor

African airlines recorded solid traffic growth in October, with passenger demand rising 7.3pc year-on-year, outperforming capacity expansion and lifting load factors. New IATA data shows the continent maintaining its recovery momentum even as it holds a small share of global traffic.

African carriers posted another month of steady passenger growth in October, according to the latest global air travel demand data released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The figures show Africa continuing to rebuild capacity and strengthen network performance, even as the continent still accounts for a small share of global traffic.

IATA’s October analysis indicates that demand on African carriers rose 7.3pc year-on-year, outpacing the 5.3pc increase in capacity over the same period. The resulting 74.1pc passenger load factor marked a 1.4 percentage-point improvement compared to October last year; a sign that more seats are being filled despite relatively cautious capacity additions.

Africa currently represents 2.2pc of the global passenger market, underscoring both the continent’s growth potential and the scale of investment needed to expand intra-African and international connectivity.

Globally, air travel demand expanded 6.6pc year-on-year in October, with airlines increasing capacity by 5.8pc. The worldwide load factor stood at 84.6pc, supported by strong performance across most regions. IATA said international travel grew 8.5pc, driven by double-digit increases in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East markets, while domestic travel rose 3.4pc.

Commenting on the overall trends, IATA Director General Willie Walsh said the industry is heading into the holiday season with solid momentum. “October was a strong month for air travel, the trends for the rest of the year look encouraging,” he noted, adding that scheduled seat capacity for November and December points to continued resilience despite uncertainty in the 2026 economic outlook.

For African carriers, October’s performance aligns with year-to-date recovery patterns, supported by rising regional travel demand, a rebound in tourism flows, and improving fleet utilisation. Industry analysts say the continent’s load factors remain comparatively lower than other regions due to structural challenges — including high operating costs, limited market liberalisation and infrastructure constraints — but the steady upward curve signals a more stable operating environment heading into 2026.

IATA’s global data also highlights competitive pressures and shifting market dynamics across regions. Asia-Pacific carriers recorded the strongest international growth at 10.9pc, while Middle Eastern airlines posted 10.7pc growth as they rebounded from geopolitical disruptions recorded a year earlier. North American carriers registered more modest growth at 4.5pc, although still marking an improvement after several months of flat performance.

Across domestic markets, Brazil delivered the fastest expansion with 12.4pc growth, while China, India, Japan and Australia all posted solid gains.

IATA, which represents roughly 350 airlines, accounting for more than 80pc of global air traffic, says October’s results reinforce the importance of policies that support network growth, operational resilience and consumer demand during a period of uneven economic signals.

As African carriers prepare for the peak travel season, the latest data suggests the region is consolidating its recovery, supported by strong passenger demand and a cautious but upward capacity trajectory.