Africa’s aviation market recorded steady growth in February 2026, with passenger demand rising by 4.8 percent year-on-year, as global air travel maintained a strong upward trajectory, according to the latest figures released by the International Air Transport Association. Capacity on African routes increased by 6.6 percent over the same period, while the load factor stood at 74.5 percent, representing a 1.3 percentage point decline compared to February 2025.
Globally, total passenger demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), grew by 6.1 percent compared to February 2025, reflecting sustained recovery and expansion in air travel. Capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), rose by 5.6 percent year-on-year, pushing the global load factor to 81.4 percent, up 0.3 percentage points and marking the highest load factor ever recorded for the month of February.
International passenger demand increased by 5.9 percent year-on-year, with capacity rising by 5.3 percent and load factors reaching 80.5 percent, up 0.5 percentage points. Domestic markets performed slightly stronger, with demand climbing 6.3 percent compared to February 2025. Capacity in domestic markets grew by 6.2 percent, while the load factor edged up to 82.8 percent, reflecting a balanced alignment between supply and demand.
Commenting on the performance, Willie Walsh described February as a strong month for the industry, noting that the 6.1 percent expansion in RPK signals positive fundamentals for continued growth in 2026. However, he cautioned that uncertainty surrounding the ongoing conflict in the Middle East makes it difficult to fully assess the outlook for the year. He highlighted that fuel costs have risen sharply, placing pressure on airlines already operating with tight capacity and thin margins, which is contributing to higher airfares. He also noted that airlines are adjusting capacity deployment, particularly on routes to, from, or through the Middle East, as well as in regions facing fuel supply challenges. This shift is already reflected in forward schedules, with capacity growth for March easing to 3.3 percent, down from earlier expectations of more than 5 percent.
Across international passenger markets, growth remained uneven but broadly positive. Asia-Pacific airlines recorded an 8.6 percent increase in demand, supported by a 7.3 percent rise in capacity and a strong load factor of 86.6 percent, up 1.0 percentage point year-on-year. European carriers reported a 5.0 percent increase in demand, with capacity up 4.5 percent and load factors reaching 75.6 percent, while North American airlines also posted a 5.0 percent rise in demand, though with a more modest capacity increase of 2.4 percent, pushing load factors up significantly to 80.9 percent, a 2.0 percentage point improvement.
Middle Eastern carriers experienced more modest growth of 0.9 percent in demand, with capacity rising 3.8 percent and load factors declining by 2.2 percentage points to 79.6 percent, reflecting the early impact of regional disruptions. Latin American airlines delivered the strongest regional performance, with demand surging 13.5 percent year-on-year, supported by a 9.3 percent increase in capacity and a load factor of 85.0 percent, up 3.1 percentage points.
International traffic trends were further shaped by seasonal and regional dynamics, with Asia benefiting from Lunar New Year travel demand, while routes between Europe and Asia saw particularly strong growth of 14 percent, especially on connections between Asia and countries such as Spain and Italy.
Domestic passenger markets also remained robust, with overall demand rising by 6.3 percent, driven largely by strong performance in major markets such as Brazil and China. Capacity growth of 6.2 percent closely matched demand, keeping load factors broadly stable at 82.8 percent.
The February data highlights a resilient global aviation sector, with Africa maintaining a steady growth trajectory even as airlines worldwide navigate geopolitical uncertainties, rising costs, and shifting capacity dynamics.
