The Africa’s air traffic growth is projected to surpass the global average, reaching 7.4 per cent, with flights already exceeding pre-pandemic levels.
- Airbus anticipates that this growth will drive an annual demand for services worth $7 billion in the region.
- While airlines are steadily recovering, air cargo has rebounded by 31.4 per cent, and air travel is at 93 per cent of 2019 levels.
The aviation industry in Africa is currently experiencing an upward growth trend and presents a positive financial outlook for African airlines in 2023 compared to 2022. Projections indicate that overall air traffic growth in Africa will exceed the global average of 6.1 per cent, reaching an impressive 7.4 per cent, with flights already surpassing pre-pandemic levels.
These revelations emerged during the recently concluded 7th Aviation African Summit & Exhibition, which took place on September 13th and 14th, 2023, in Abuja, Nigeria. This landmark event has been lauded as the most prominent summit, drawing nearly 1,500 delegates from over 75 countries and boasting more than 110 global exhibitors and sponsors.
Under the theme ‘Stepping up for business,’ the event concerned fostering a united and competitive African aviation industry, aiming to build, shape, and advance it collectively.
Aviation industry traffic to double by 2040
Hosted for the first time in West Africa, this inaugural event was a collaborative effort between the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Times Aerospace. Beyond its primary objectives, it sought to challenge the existing scenario where Africa, despite representing 18 per cent of the global population, contributes a mere 2 per cent to international air transport market activities, encompassing cargo and passenger services.
During the summit, aviation leaders from various African nations discussed formulating strategies to propel the thriving sector forward. The overarching objective was to enhance Africa’s capacity and capabilities to align with the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) projection that air traffic is set to double by 2040.
This is the first time we’ve hosted the summit in West Africa, but it’s not before it’s time. Nine years ago, the first summit was scheduled on the continent, but it proved impossible due to the myriad visa restrictions for intra-African connectivity. Hence, the first summit being hosted in Dubai. However, a year later, Rwanda had completed the process for visas on arrival, thus paving the way for hosting the event for where it needed to be.” Alan Peaford, the Summit Chairman, noted.
Furthermore, he underlined that Africa, particularly West Africa, has been keen to tap into the value that the aviation sector promises. As Africa’s most populous nation, Nigeria and the wider West African region have plenty to contribute to the global aerospace industry and fuel economic growth.
This is despite many challenges, such as geopolitics, poor connectivity, a lack of investment in infrastructure, and a shortage of maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facilities.
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