Boeing sees Africa’s aircraft fleet more than doubling as passenger traffic projected to expand through 2044

December 2, 2025 in Business, Companies, Infrastructure, Trade & Industry, Transport, Travel & Tourism by Editor

Growing demand for air travel across Africa—driven by rapid urbanisation and an expanding middle class—is reshaping the region’s fleet needs. Airlines are expected to favour single-aisle aircraft for both regional and short-haul international routes as carriers expand connectivity over the next two decades.

Africa’s commercial aircraft fleet is expected to more than double over the next two decades as passenger air traffic grows at an average annual rate of 6pc, according to new projections from Boeing. The findings are part of the US planemaker’s 2025 Commercial Market Outlook (CMO) for Africa, released on Tuesday on the sidelines of the 57th Annual General Assembly of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) in Luanda.

Boeing attributes the surge in demand to a young and increasingly urban population, a rising middle class, and major investments in airport infrastructure and connectivity. The company projects that Africa’s fleet will expand to 1,680 aircraft by 2044, up from fewer than 800 today.

Single-aisle aircraft will dominate this growth, with about 70pc of the 1,205 new deliveries expected between 2025 and 2044 falling in this category. Boeing says these jets are critical for expanding intra-African routes and shorter international services — areas where low-cost carriers in particular are positioned to accelerate network expansion and offer more affordable travel options. The tilt towards single-aisle is also driven by the increasing capabilities of these aircraft in terms of passenger capacity and range.

“Aviation is a catalyst for Africa’s economic expansion and intra-continental connection, building on industry growth we’ve seen across the region over the last 20 years,” said Shahab Matin, Boeing’s managing director of Commercial Marketing for the Middle East and Africa. He added that efficient, versatile aircraft, backed by policies that make air travel accessible to a broader base of Africans, will unlock new opportunities for airlines and regional hubs.

Boeing notes that aviation’s economic impact extends well beyond the airlines themselves, stimulating tourism, trade, investment and manufacturing. The projected growth is expected to create demand for about 74,000 aviation personnel across the continent — including pilots, technicians and cabin crew — over the next 20 years.

The CMO also highlights rising demand for widebody aircraft as African carriers modernise long-haul fleets, increased interest in dedicated freighters to support growing logistics and export markets, and a services market valued at roughly USD 130 billion through 2044.

Projected New Aircraft Deliveries in Africa, 2025–2044

• Regional jets: 90

• Single-aisle aircraft: 865

• Widebodies: 240

• Freighters: 10

• Total: 1,205

Published annually since 1961, Boeing’s Commercial Market Outlook remains a key reference for airlines, suppliers and policymakers planning for the future of global and regional aviation.