The African Civil Aviation Commission has underscored the growing economic impact of aviation across the continent, revealing that the sector has supported more than 8.1 million jobs and contributed approximately $75 billion to Africa’s Gross Domestic Product in recent years.
Speaking at the Aircraft Acquisition and Investment Summit in Lagos, AFCAC Secretary-General, Funke Adeyemi, disclosed that 124 new air routes have been opened across Africa within the past three years, facilitating the movement of about 113 million passengers. She described the milestone as a strong indicator of progress, while noting that it still represents only a fraction of the continent’s full aviation potential.
Adeyemi emphasised that the expansion of routes is closely tied to ongoing efforts to liberalise African airspace under the Single African Air Transport Market initiative, which is gradually transforming connectivity across the region. She noted that increased interconnectivity is not only improving passenger mobility but also strengthening trade, tourism, and regional integration.
According to her, the growth in routes is helping to address long-standing inefficiencies in intra-African travel, where passengers often had to transit through non-African hubs to reach neighbouring countries. She added that the expansion is also driving down travel costs by reducing unnecessary stopovers and encouraging more direct connections.
She highlighted the rising adoption of fifth freedom traffic rights, which allow airlines to operate between two foreign countries as part of a service originating or ending in their home country, noting that utilisation has grown significantly in recent years and is expected to increase further.
Despite the gains, Adeyemi called for stronger collaboration among African states to unlock the full benefits of aviation growth, stressing the need to address non-physical barriers such as visa restrictions, regulatory inconsistencies, and gaps in safety and consumer protection standards.
She also pointed out that while policy frameworks are in place, implementation remains uneven across the continent, urging governments and industry stakeholders to move beyond commitments and accelerate execution.
The summit, which brought together key aviation stakeholders, also drew participation from senior Nigerian officials, including the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, alongside other government and industry leaders, reflecting the growing importance of aviation as a driver of economic development and continental integration.
