African airlines continued their recovery in September 2025, recording a 5.3% increase in international passenger demand compared to the same month last year, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
The data highlights growing confidence in Africa’s aviation sector amid steady global recovery in air travel.
IATA’s September 2025 global passenger market report showed that Africa’s load factor — a measure of how full flights are — rose slightly to 74.7%, up 0.1 percentage points from September 2024. Airlines on the continent also expanded capacity by 5.1% year-on-year, just below the increase in traffic, which helped improve the load factor marginally.
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“African airlines saw a 5.3% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity was up 5.1% year-on-year. The load factor was 74.7% (+0.1 ppt compared to September 2024),” the IATA report stated.
The growth, analysts say, was largely supported by increasing intra-African connectivity, business travel, and leisure demand as more routes reopened and regional carriers resumed full operations. Despite challenges such as high operating costs and limited aircraft availability, African carriers continue to see gradual gains in passenger volumes.
Globally, passenger demand climbed 3.6% in September 2025, while total capacity rose 3.7%. The global load factor stood at 83.4%, down slightly by 0.1 percentage points year-on-year. International traffic accounted for most of the gains, rising 5.1%, while domestic travel grew by just 0.9%.
IATA Director General Willie Walsh said the growth momentum reflects sustained passenger confidence and strong international demand.
“Solid international demand drove most of September 2025’s 3.6% global passenger growth. Capacity expanded slightly faster at 3.7%, but load factors remained strong at 83.4%,” he said.
Walsh added that airlines are already preparing for continued expansion into the year-end travel season. He noted that with November flight schedules showing a 3% increase over last year, airlines are preparing for continued growth into the year-end holiday season despite ongoing supply chain constraints.
Africa’s share of the global air passenger market stood at 2.2% in September 2025, significantly smaller than Asia-Pacific’s 33.5%, Europe’s 26.7%, and North America’s 22.9%. The Middle East accounted for 9.4%, while Latin America and the Caribbean held 5.3%.
Although Africa’s share remains modest, the 5.3% increase in demand and the improved load factor underscore a positive trajectory for the continent’s aviation industry. The recovery has been uneven but consistent, with regional routes seeing particular growth as governments and private investors strengthen cross-border air links.
Across regions, performance varied. Asia-Pacific airlines recorded the strongest growth at 7.4%, with a load factor of 83.3%, boosted by rising intra-Asia travel, particularly between China and Japan. Middle Eastern carriers saw a 6.2% increase in demand with a load factor of 81.8%, while Latin America and the Caribbean posted a 5.4% rise and a load factor of 83.6%.
European carriers experienced a more moderate 2.9% increase but led all regions with the highest load factor globally at 86.2%, reflecting efficient capacity management and sustained travel demand across major European hubs. North American airlines, by contrast, saw nearly flat demand growth at -0.1%, with a load factor of 81.2%, weighed down by softer trans-Pacific traffic.
Aviation experts have noted that Africa’s steady improvement could accelerate further if governments enhance aviation infrastructure and reduce barriers that continue to limit regional operations. The rise in passenger demand in 2025 signals that African aviation is firmly on a path of gradual, sustainable growth, despite challenges such as currency restrictions and jet fuel shortages in some markets.