ads…as capacity outpaces Demand
African passenger traffic is projected to reach 137.3 million in 2026, marking a 21.5 percent increase from 2025. However, African carriers are expected to earn a profit margin of only 0.2 percent, among the thinnest of any region globally as capacity growth continues to outstrip demand growth.
The figures were disclosed by the African media roundtable held at the Sarit Expo Centre in Nairobi, themed “Resilient African Aviation: Partnerships, Empowerment, Profitability
AFRAA, whose 50 member airlines carry over 85 percent of international traffic among African operators, issued an urgent appeal to governments, regional institutions, and financing partners to implement coordinated interventions to help airlines convert surging travel demand into sustainable profitability.
Despite Africa’s population climbing to 1.58 billion in 2026 with a median age of 19, and continental economies expanding at 4.3 percent annually, air travel penetration remains at just 7 percent of the population—among the lowest worldwideadsads
