The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released data on global air travel for February 2025, highlighting a 6.7% year-on-year increase in passenger demand for African airlines. This growth comes even as global air traffic expansion slowed slightly compared to previous months.
African carriers recorded a 4.0% rise in capacity, while the load factor—a key measure of how efficiently airlines fill available seats—climbed to 75.3%, marking a 2.0 percentage point improvement from February 2024. This demonstrates resilience in the region’s aviation sector despite global economic uncertainties.
While Africa saw strong demand growth, other regions experienced a mixed performance. Asia-Pacific airlines led the way with a 9.5% increase in demand, followed by Latin America and Europe. However, North America saw a decline of 1.5%, with both domestic and international traffic falling due to economic concerns and reduced consumer confidence.
Despite global factors such as the leap year effect and shifting Lunar New Year travel patterns, African aviation remained robust, supported by rising connectivity, infrastructure improvements, and increasing demand for regional and international travel.
Africa’s aviation sector continues to benefit from increased intra-African travel, growing investments in airport infrastructure, and airline partnerships under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM). However, challenges such as high operational costs, limited access to financing, and regulatory constraints still pose hurdles to sustained long-term growth.
Additionally, while global reforms on passenger rights are being debated, African airlines must balance consumer protection with operational sustainability to remain competitive on the global stage.
As airlines worldwide prepare for the busy March and April travel seasons, African carriers are well-positioned to capitalize on growing demand and increased connectivity within the continent. With continued investment and policy reforms, Africa’s aviation industry can build on its February success and play a larger role in shaping the future of global air travel.
