According to the International Air Transport Association, Nigeria’s passenger traffic and seat capacity have significantly increased, reaching levels about 60% higher than those seen in 2019. Its expansion continues the promising trends that started in the last quarter of 2022.
The association made this information public during the most recent Focus Africa Conference in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia.
According to the report, revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) for African airlines increased by an astounding 87.1% year over year in the first quarter of 2023, falling only 9.4% behind levels from the previous year.
More than 400 aviation professionals and stakeholders attended the conference, covering safety, regulation, sustainability, commerce, and regional economic development. The conference addressed important challenges impacting air passenger and freight transportation in Africa.
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Different results apply to different African nations regarding origin-destination passenger traffic and airline-scheduled seat capacity.
As compared to the same quarter in 2019, passenger traffic in Northern Africa increased significantly in Egypt and Morocco by 29% and 20%, respectively.
In Egypt, airline capacity increased by 30% compared to the first quarter of 2019, keeping up with passenger demand.
Passenger numbers increased more quickly in Morocco and other countries than airline seat capacity, showing more effective use of airline capacity.
When this was happening, Ethiopia, in Eastern Africa, reported passenger and airline seat levels that were 19% and 14% higher than pre-pandemic levels, respectively.
IATA asserts that persistent structural and profitability issues in Southern Africa have continued to have an impact on the region’s markets, which have trailed below 2019 levels of aviation activity.
“South Africa’s Q1 2023 passengers remained 12% behind 2019 levels, reflecting a weakening local economy and restrictions on airline capacity, while scheduled seats were much farther behind” (27 per cent below).
The market, according to the organization, “showed remarkable recovery from the traffic and capacity shortages experienced in the fourth quarter of 2022.”
The research also emphasizes how connection improvements and increasing competition among regional carriers have contributed to Africa’s strong resurgence in air traffic.
IATA said that efforts to liberalize aviation in Africa “must increase” to fully benefit from aviation’s contribution to economic growth.
