Nigeria’s scheduled airline seat capacity increased by 37 per cent year-on-year to 1.22 million seats in August 2026, marking the fastest growth among Africa’s leading aviation markets.

The figures are contained in the OAG Scheduled Capacity Data for August 2026, which tracks scheduled airline seat capacity across the African continent.

The report showed that Nigeria added 330,700 scheduled airline seats in August 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, the largest increase among Africa’s top 10 aviation markets. Across the continent, total scheduled airline seat capacity rose by 8.4 per cent year-on-year during the period.

According to OAG, Nigeria’s domestic aviation market also posted robust growth, with scheduled seat capacity rising by 42.6 per cent year-on-year to 907,600 seats in August 2026. This represents an additional 271,000 seats compared with August 2025.

“Nigeria is the fastest-growing country market at +37.0 per cent to 1.22 million seats,” the report stated.

Egypt remained Africa’s largest airline market in August 2026, with 3.2 million scheduled seats, representing a 12.1 per cent increase from a year earlier. South Africa followed with 2.34 million seats, while Morocco ranked third with 2.21 million.

South Africa also retained its position as the continent’s largest domestic aviation market, with 1.6 million scheduled seats.

Among other markets, domestic capacity grew by 44 per cent in Congo and 25.2 per cent in Egypt, while Kenya recorded an 11.2 per cent decline, equivalent to 48,800 fewer scheduled seats than in August 2025.

Across Africa, total scheduled airline seat capacity reached 27.3 million in August 2026, representing an 8.4 per cent year-on-year increase.

International routes accounted for 21.5 million seats, or 79 per cent of the total, while domestic services contributed 5.8 million seats, reflecting an 11 per cent increase from the corresponding period in 2025.

The OAG report also ranked airlines by scheduled seat capacity across the continent for August 2026, with Ethiopian Airlines retaining its position as Africa’s largest carrier.

Ethiopian Airlines topped the ranking with 2.19 million scheduled seats, representing a 10.9 per cent increase year-on-year, while South Africa’s Safair ranked second.

South Africa’s Safair ranked second with 984,700 scheduled seats despite a 1.1 per cent year-on-year decline, while EgyptAir placed third with 922,600 seats, representing an 8.1 per cent increase.

Royal Air Maroc ranked fourth with 868,100 scheduled seats, while Air Algérie placed fifth after recording the fastest growth among the top 10 carriers at 16.8 per cent.

Air Peace dropped out of Africa’s top 10 airline rankings in August 2026, with Kenya Airways returning to the list in 10th position.

The remaining airlines in the top 10 were Airlink, Ryanair, Emirates and Transavia France.