African airlines recorded a standout performance in May 2025, registering a 9.5% year-on-year increase in international air travel demand, according to new data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

The continent’s carriers not only outpaced most global regions in passenger growth but also achieved the highest improvement in seat occupancy, or load factor, climbing 2.2 percentage points to 74.9%—the strongest load factor gain worldwide for the month.

The sharp rise in demand on the Africa–Asia corridor, which surged by 15.9% year-on-year, was singled out by IATA as the fastest-growing international route globally in May. This resurgence reflects rising trade and tourism ties between the two regions, with increasing flight frequencies and expanded partnerships driving up connectivity.

To meet the momentum, African airlines scaled up capacity by 6.2%, a move seen as both bold and measured. This ensured that rising passenger volumes were matched with available seats, avoiding the kind of overcapacity that plagued some other regions.

“African airlines saw a 9.5% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity was up 6.2% year-on-year. The load factor was 74.9% (+2.2 ppt compared to May 2024). Africa-Asia is the fastest-growing international corridor, with an expansion of 15.9%,” the IATA report stated.

Strong Global Trends, With Africa and Asia-Pacific Leading

Globally, international passenger demand rose 6.7% in May compared to the same period in 2024, with available seat capacity increasing by 6.4%. This pushed the international load factor to a record 83.2% for the month of May.

When both international and domestic markets are considered, global air travel demand and capacity each grew by 5.0%, although the average load factor slipped slightly to 83.4%.

IATA Director General Willie Walsh noted that Asia-Pacific led the global recovery, boasting a 13.3% growth in international demand, supported by a 10.6% rise in capacity. The region’s load factor hit 84.0%, up 2.0 percentage points compared to the previous year.

Walsh emphasized that while recovery continues, the pace is uneven. He flagged ongoing geopolitical tensions—especially in the Middle East—as a persistent risk to travel demand. However, he added that low oil prices and robust forward bookings heading into the summer suggest strong near-term momentum.

Mixed Performance in Other Regions

While Africa and Asia-Pacific showed strength, other regions delivered more tempered results:

• Latin America: Carriers posted an 8.8% rise in international demand, but a sharper 11.0% increase in capacity led to a lower load factor of 83.6%, reflecting potential overcapacity.
• Middle East: Demand rose 6.2%, closely tracking the 6.3% growth in capacity, keeping the load factor relatively flat at 80.9%.
• Europe: A 4.1% rise in demand was matched by a 4.8% increase in capacity, resulting in a slight drop in load factor to 84.0%, down 0.6 percentage points year-on-year.
• North America: The region posted the weakest growth, with just 1.4% growth in international demand and a 1.7% capacity increase, pushing the load factor down to 83.8%.

Africa’s Aviation Resilience Shows

The resilience of African aviation is underscored not just by rising demand but also by more disciplined capacity management and growing intercontinental ties. Analysts say this is likely the result of more coordinated airline strategies, improving infrastructure, and a rise in tourism and business travel across East and West Africa, as well as growing air traffic with China, India, and Southeast Asia.

The Africa–Asia route is increasingly vital, especially as several African governments promote new visa-free travel policies and bilateral air service agreements with Asian countries. The corridor is also being fueled by cargo operations, as trade volumes rebound after a slowdown in 2023.

Looking ahead, aviation experts see the potential for further gains if African carriers continue to modernize fleets, invest in service improvements, and expand route networks through alliances and codeshares.

For now, May’s performance stands as a positive signal for a continent that has long struggled with underinvestment and low interconnectivity in its aviation sector. The latest IATA figures suggest African aviation is not just recovering post-pandemic—it is beginning to thrive.

Robinhood stock surged 10% on Monday to reach an all-time high after the trading platform announced its entry into tokenized private equity, offering users in the European Union access to shares of OpenAI and SpaceX.

The move marks the company’s most aggressive push yet into the crypto space and could signal a broader challenge to how access to private markets is structured globally.

During its product showcase in Cannes, Robinhood unveiled a suite of blockchain-enabled products, including over 200 tokenized stocks and ETFs now tradable on its EU crypto app — all commission- and spread-free, available 24/5. But the spotlight fell squarely on its decision to tokenize equity in OpenAI and SpaceX, two of the most tightly held private companies in the world.

While neither OpenAI nor SpaceX is publicly listed, Robinhood’s crypto division is leveraging blockchain to democratize access to equity markets that have traditionally been the domain of venture capitalists and high-net-worth individuals.

“We wanted to make sure we were giving access,” said Johann Kerbrat, Robinhood’s general manager of crypto. “What we discussed on stage was how to address the inequality between people who’ve historically had access to these kinds of companies — and everyone else. That’s the really exciting part: now everyone will be able to get it.”

The company is marking the launch with a marketing campaign offering €5 worth of OpenAI and SpaceX tokenized shares to every eligible EU user who registers to trade stock tokens before July 7. To back this campaign, Robinhood has set aside $1 million worth of OpenAI tokens and $500,000 worth of SpaceX tokens.

This rollout is Robinhood’s first step into tokenizing private companies, a feat made possible largely due to the EU’s relatively liberal regulatory environment. Unlike in the United States, there are no accredited investor rules in the European Union restricting who can invest in private equity — meaning anyone qualified to trade tokenized stocks in the EU can now own a slice of some of the world’s most coveted tech companies.

“The goal with tokenization is to let anyone participate in this economy,” Kerbrat said.

Why Not in the U.S.?

For now, this opportunity is exclusive to European users, with Robinhood signaling that U.S. investors shouldn’t expect similar access in the near future. Strict U.S. regulations — particularly those around who qualifies as an accredited investor — remain a barrier to broader participation in private equity markets.

Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev has previously called for regulatory reform, urging U.S. authorities to adopt a more modern approach that recognizes the role of blockchain in expanding economic access. But the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has remained wary of crypto-related equity innovations.

Nevertheless, Robinhood’s U.S. user base isn’t being left behind entirely. The company announced that American users will now have access to staking for Ethereum and Solana, a major milestone after months of regulatory uncertainty that had kept such offerings off the table.

Building the Infrastructure

The tokenized stock launch is supported by Robinhood’s newly unveiled Layer 2 blockchain built on Arbitrum, a scaling solution that enables faster and cheaper crypto transactions. The blockchain is integrated with the company’s custody wallet, where the tokenized shares are delivered to users.

This infrastructure is intended to form the backbone of Robinhood’s decentralized financial offerings and could eventually support everything from synthetic assets to smart contract-based investing strategies.

Robinhood’s pivot to tokenized private equity is more than a product launch — it’s a strategic bet on financial inclusion through crypto. Tokenized assets have long been hyped as a way to open up access to previously restricted investment classes, from real estate to venture capital.

Robinhood is pushing the boundaries of how people think about ownership and access in modern finance by making private equity tradable around the clock without commission. In doing so, it’s not just expanding its product line — it’s trying to rewire the rules of the game.

The challenge, however, is ensuring these moves gain traction amid regulatory scrutiny and technical complexity. As of now, no indication has been given on whether the tokenized shares represent real equity or derivative exposure, nor whether OpenAI or SpaceX have approved or endorsed the offering.

However, Monday’s announcement electrified investor sentiment, sending Robinhood shares climbing to their highest point yet and reinforcing the company’s pivot from meme stock facilitator to global fintech disruptor.

The move, for now, plants Robinhood firmly in the middle of a growing global experiment: can tokenized finance deliver on its promise to broaden economic opportunity — or will it remain a niche tool for crypto-native investors?

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery says its ambitious nationwide fuel distribution initiative — valued at N720 billion — is set to save Nigerians over N1.7 trillion each year, mainly by cutting logistics costs, lowering pump prices, and easing inflationary pressure.

In a statement issued Sunday, June 30, the company revealed it has begun deploying 4,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered trucks to deliver petroleum products across Nigeria, absorbing more than N1.07 trillion annually in distribution expenses that would typically be passed on to consumers.

The company said the trucks will begin direct delivery of petrol and diesel from August 15, targeting filling stations, industrial facilities, telecom towers, aviation operators, and other high-volume users across the country. The trucks are part of a broader logistics overhaul that includes new CNG filling stations and credit support for marketers.

“This bold step will see the privately-owned refinery absorb over N1.07 trillion annually in fuel distribution costs,” the statement reads. “The initiative is also poised to significantly benefit over 42 million Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by reducing energy costs and enhancing profitability.”

Pump Prices Expected to Drop

The refinery estimates that distribution costs alone average N45 per liter, which has long been a burden on marketers and end users, especially amid the non-functionality of Nigeria’s state-owned pipelines.

By removing this cost through direct CNG-fueled deliveries, Dangote’s initiative is expected to help lower pump prices, bring price uniformity across states, and reduce inflation in fuel-dependent sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, and transportation.

The company reiterated its goal of meeting Nigeria’s daily fuel demand of 65 million liters, made up of 45 million liters of petrol (PMS), 15 million liters of diesel, and 5 million liters of aviation fuel.

Experts, Presidency, and Marketers Applaud the Move

The Presidency and industry stakeholders hailed the announcement as transformative. Tosin Coker, Commercial Coordinator of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI), described it as a pivotal endorsement of Nigeria’s gas-powered transport vision.

“Dangote Group’s acquisition of 4,000 CNG trucks is not only impressive in scale but also highly strategic,” Coker said. “It signals to the market that CNG is no longer a distant prospect but a current, practical solution to high energy costs, emissions, and supply chain challenges.”

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) welcomed the move as a long-awaited solution to decades-old infrastructure gaps.

“Our pipelines have been non-functional for years. We’ve had to rely on expensive transport from coastal depots. Dangote’s intervention lifts a huge burden off the shoulders of independent marketers,” said IPMAN spokesperson Chinedu Ukadike.

Prominent economist Professor Ken Ife called the initiative a “relief mechanism” for households and businesses already weighed down by post-subsidy inflation. Bismarck Rewane, CEO of Financial Derivatives Company, said the scheme would curb inefficiencies and “remove the parasitic layer of middlemen,” who extract value without investment.

“What Dangote is doing achieves two key objectives: delivering products across the country at a uniform price by eliminating bridging costs, and reducing logistics expenses through CNG-powered distribution,” Rewane said.

He added that the direct-to-station model and extension of credit facilities to marketers would boost liquidity and resuscitate many struggling outlets.

Economic, Environmental, and Job Impacts

Beyond fuel savings, the Dangote Group says its initiative is aligned with Nigeria’s economic diversification and sustainability goals. The use of CNG trucks is expected to cut carbon emissions and promote cleaner transport alternatives, in line with Nigeria’s energy transition targets.

Over 15,000 direct jobs are expected to be created across the logistics chain, including roles for truck drivers, CNG station operators, mechanics, and support personnel. It will also revive dormant filling stations, enhance last-mile delivery, and reduce fuel scarcity in hard-to-reach areas.

Moreover, the scheme aims to curb smuggling, which has surged since the fuel subsidy removal. With fuel being sold at unified, fairer prices nationwide and transported through tracked company channels, the risk of cross-border diversion is expected to reduce drastically.

The Dangote Group’s investment in logistics infrastructure marks a significant pivot from the era of costly third-party distribution, inadequate depots, and pipeline failures that have long plagued Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector.

The company is not only reshaping fuel pricing but also triggering what some experts see as the first comprehensive market-driven reform in the post-subsidy era, by bearing the fuel transport costs and bringing direct delivery services.