Tuesday, September 16, 2025
23.5 C
Lagos

North African Airlines Control 45% of Africa’s Air Traffic

According to the latest edition of Secteur Privé & Développement (Private Sector & Development) published by Proparco, AFD’s arm in charge of private sector, Northern Africa airlines dominate Africa’s air traffic.

Over a total of 44.075 million passengers, these companies namely Egyptair (first with 18 million passengers), Air Algerie (second with 12 million), Royal Air Maroc (third with 11.035 million) and Tunisair (seventh with 2.666 million) grabbed nearly 45% of total number of passengers carried by African airlines, according to the London-based platform OAG, which analyzes the sector.

South African Airlines, which is presently encountering some challenges, Ethiopian Airlines, one of the continent’s most active airlines and Kenya Airways which is also quite present in Africa, despite its financial troubles, are respectively fourth, fifth and sixth.

The growth potential of the inter-African air traffic market is quite significant. Some experts estimate in fact that given Africa’s current communication issues, it is cheaper to build airport infrastructures than roads or railways.

However, according to Jean-Louis Barroux, CEO APG World Connect, cited by Proparco’s magazine, one of the major challenges in the sector is the compartmentalisation of African skies. “It is difficult for most African nations to liberalise air transport as the airspace belongs to them and it holds a strong symbolic and political position for them,” he said.

He added that most public authorities in Africa lack, unfortunately, the skills and resources needed to properly manage this sector. Truly, in many countries are airlines’ directors still appointed due to their ties with the power in place, rather than for their actual skills.

Nevertheless, there are still airlines such as Asky, Rwandair or Air Ivoire that remain the region’s pride as they provide permanent or almost (90%) regular services within Africa.

However, transportation costs are expensive, travelling duration are quite long (it can sometimes take 3 hours to go from Douala in Cameroon to Lagos in Nigeria).

Another challenge is the difficulty for people to move freely between borders in Africa.

spot_img
spot_img

Hot this week

Designing the Future: Arc Christian Benimana, Prof Taibat Lawanson to Headline Ecobank Design and Build 2025

Ecobank Nigeria has announced that celebrated architect Arc. Christian...

Sovereign Trust Insurance Wins Enactus Catalyst Award

From L-R: Victor Akinfala, Head Partnerships & Special Projects,...

SEC DG: Commission Considering Gradual Implementation of ISSB Standards

The Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission...

Universal Insurance MD/CEO, Jeff Duru, Bags CIBN Associate Membership

  Dr. Jeff Duru Managing Director/CEO Universal Insurance Plc The Managing Director/CEO of...

Sterling One Foundation CEO, Olapeju Ibekwe, Joins Board of UN Global Compact Network Nigeria Ahead of UNGA 80

    Olapeju Ibekwe, Chief Executive Officer of Sterling One Foundation,...

Topics

UBA, Etisalat, Afrinvest for Enugu State Investment Summit

The United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, telecommunications giant,...

Sovereign Trust Insurance Reports N10bn Gross Premium in Q3 2021

Mr. Olaotan Soyinka Managing Director/CEO Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc Despite...

Nominations Open for 2025 Almond Insurance Industry Awards

The stage is now set for the 2025 Annual...

The Swiss Golden Millionaire Opportunity (SPONSORED)

Today is a great opportunity for discerning investors to...

Stanbic IBTC PMI: Private Sector Continues to Expand, Intense Cost Pressure Weighs on Growth

Nigeria's private sector concluded the third quarter of 2021...

AMCON CEO at Inter-Agency Committee Meeting on Debt Recovery

The Chairman of Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img