African airlines continued their recovery in September 2025, recording a 5.3% increase in international passenger demand compared to the same month last year, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
The data highlights growing confidence in the African aviation sector amid continued global air travel recovery.
IATA’s September 2025 Global Passenger Market Report showed that Africa’s load factor – a measure of flight occupancy – increased slightly to 74.7%, up 0.1 percentage points from September 2024. The continent’s airlines also increased capacity by 5.1% year-on-year, just below the increase in traffic, which helped to slightly improve the load factor.
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“African airlines experienced an increase in demand of 5.3% year-on-year. Capacity increased by 5.1% year-on-year. Load factor was 74.7% (+0.1 ppt compared to September 2024),” the IATA report said.
Growth was largely supported by increased intra-Africa connectivity, business travel and leisure demand, analysts said, as more routes reopened and regional carriers resumed full operations. Despite challenges such as high operating costs and limited aircraft availability, African carriers continue to see a gradual increase in passenger volume.
Globally, passenger demand increased by 3.6% in September 2025, while total capacity increased by 3.7%. The overall load factor stood at 83.4%, down slightly by 0.1 percentage point year-on-year. International traffic accounted for most of the gains, up 5.1%, while domestic travel rose just 0.9%.
IATA Director General Willie Walsh said the growth momentum reflects sustained passenger confidence and strong international demand.
“Strong international demand drove most of the global passenger growth of 3.6% in September 2025. Capacity grew slightly faster at 3.7%, but load factors remained strong at 83.4%,” it said.
Walsh added that airlines are already preparing to continue their expansion during the year-end tourist season. He noted that with November flight schedules showing a 3% increase compared to last year, airlines are preparing for continued growth during the holiday season, despite continued supply chain constraints.
Africa’s share of the global air passenger market stood at 2.2% in September 2025, significantly lower than Asia-Pacific’s 33.5%, Europe’s 26.7% and North America’s 22.9%. The Middle East accounted for 9.4%, while Latin America and the Caribbean had 5.3%.
Although Africa’s share remains modest, the 5.3% increase in demand and improved load factor highlight a positive trajectory for the continent’s aviation industry. The recovery has been uneven but consistent, with regional routes seeing particular growth as governments and private investors boost cross-border air links.
Depending on the region, performance varied. Airlines in the Asia-Pacific region recorded the strongest growth at 7.4%, with a load factor of 83.3%, driven by increased intra-Asia travel, particularly between China and Japan. Middle Eastern carriers recorded a 6.2% increase in demand with a load factor of 81.8%, while Latin America and the Caribbean saw an increase of 5.4% and a load factor of 83.6%.
European carriers saw a more moderate increase of 2.9%, but led all regions with the highest load factor in the world, at 86.2%, reflecting effective capacity management and sustained travel demand in Europe’s main hubs. On the other hand, North American airlines experienced almost stable demand growth, at -0.1%, with a load factor of 81.2%, weighed down by weaker transpacific traffic.
Aviation experts have noted that Africa’s steady improvement could further accelerate if governments improve aviation infrastructure and reduce obstacles that continue to limit regional operations. The increase in passenger demand in 2025 indicates that African aviation is firmly on the path to gradual and sustainable growth, despite challenges such as currency restrictions and jet fuel shortages in some markets.
