Africa’s airline seat capacity climbed to 24.8 million in March 2026, marking a 10.4 per cent increase compared with March 2025.

The figures were published in OAG’s Africa Aviation Market: Monthly Airline Data Updates for the African Market.

According to the report, growth was recorded across both international and domestic routes, reflecting sustained recovery and rising demand for air travel across the continent.

The report stated that most of the increase in airline capacity came from international flights, which remain the biggest part of the market.

It also notes that domestic travel grew significantly, contributing to the overall rise in aviation activity.

“Total airline capacity across Africa this month is 24.8 million seats, up 10.4% compared with March 2025.
“International capacity represents 77% of total capacity and is up by 10.2% vs March 2025. Domestic capacity increased by 10.8%,” the report read.

The report added that full-service (mainline) airlines made up 79 per cent of total seat capacity and recorded a 10.4 per cent increase.
Low-cost carriers also expanded, growing by 10.1 per cent to 5.2 million seats.

The data provided a detailed breakdown of airline performance across Africa, identifying the major carriers driving capacity growth.

Ethiopian Airlines remained the largest airline by seat capacity, while several others posted double-digit increases.

Ethiopian Airlines led with 1,970,341 seats, marking a 4.0 per cent year-on-year rise. Safair recorded 1,082,610 seats, up 13.4 per cent, while Egyptair followed with 848,102 seats, reflecting 7.5 per cent growth.

Air Algérie and Royal Air Maroc also posted strong gains of 17.9 per cent and 26.6 per cent, respectively.

South African Airways posted a 25.5 per cent increase in seat capacity, while Kenya Airways recorded a 1.3 per cent decline, making it the only airline among the top 10 to register a drop.

The data also underscored the expanding presence of international operators such as Ryanair and Emirates, reflecting Africa’s deepening connectivity with global markets.

Recent figures from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) pointed to robust growth in Africa’s aviation sector, with steady gains in passenger demand, seat capacity, and cargo activity across major routes.

African airlines posted a 10.3 per cent rise in international passenger traffic in December 2025. For the full year, international demand grew by 7.8 per cent, while capacity expanded by 6.5 per cent, lifting the average load factor to 74.9 per cent.