African airlines recorded an 8% enhance in international passenger demand in September 2026, the second-highest growth amongst international areas, behind Latin America’s 8.2%.
This was contained in the September 2026 international passenger demand report launched by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
The growth exceeded the worldwide international market’s 0.4% enhance, though African carriers expanded obtainable capability quicker than passenger demand throughout the interval.
African airlines record 8% international passenger demand growth
African airlines elevated their obtainable seat capability by 8.8% year-on-year in September, exceeding the 8% growth in international passenger demand.
This resulted in a 0.6 percentage-point decline in the area’s passenger load issue to 74.8%, indicating {that a} smaller proportion of obtainable seats was occupied in contrast with September 2025.
IATA reported that the area maintained one of many strongest performances amongst international aviation markets, with solely Latin America recording increased demand growth.
- “African airlines saw an 8.0% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity was up 8.8% year-on-year. The load factor was 74.8% (-0.6 ppt compared to September 2025),” IATA mentioned.
- Latin American airlines recorded 8.2% demand growth, with capability rising by 7.6% and cargo issue rising by 0.5 proportion factors to 83.9%.
- European carriers recorded 1.8% demand growth, whereas Asia-Pacific airlines grew by 0.7%. Their respective load elements elevated to 86.1% and 83.1%.
North American demand was flat, though capability fell by 1.9%, lifting the load issue by 1.6 proportion factors to 84.9%. The Middle East recorded the weakest efficiency, with demand declining by 7.5% and its load issue falling by 3.6 proportion factors to 78.3%.
Global passenger demand falls once more
The international aviation market recorded a second consecutive month-to-month decline in passenger demand in September, though the contraction eased from the 0.8% recorded in August.
- Total passenger demand, measured in income passenger kilometres (RPK), fell by 0.5% year-on-year, whereas obtainable seat capability, measured in obtainable seat kilometres (ASK), declined by 0.2%. The international passenger load issue stood at 83.2%, down 0.3 proportion factors from September 2025.
- International passenger demand elevated by 0.4%, whereas capability expanded by 0.5%. Excluding the Middle East, international demand would have grown by 1.7%.
- Domestic passenger demand declined by 2.2%, whereas capability fell by 1.3%. The home load issue dropped by 0.7 proportion factors to 82.5%.
- India recorded an 8.3% decline in home demand, its steepest fall of the yr. The United States declined by 2.7%, whereas Japan fell by 0.8%.
Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA’s Senior Vice President Sustainability and Chief Economist, attributed the worldwide weak spot largely to the Middle East and North America. She famous that September was an enchancment on August, though geopolitical uncertainty and risky gasoline costs may proceed to have an effect on efficiency.
IATA projected international scheduled seat capability growth of 0.6% in October and 1.5% in November in contrast with the corresponding months of 2025.
African airline demand growth positive aspects momentum
African airlines’ international passenger demand growth accelerated to eight% in September from 6.7% in August, in keeping with IATA’s month-to-month passenger market reviews.
However, capability enlargement additionally elevated, reaching 8.8% in September from 8.3% in August. The hole between capability and demand growth continued to weigh on the area’s passenger load issue.
- In August, African airlines recorded 6.7% international demand growth, whereas the passenger load issue stood at 78.4%, down 1.2 proportion factors from August 2025.
- Demand growth had fluctuated all year long, rising by 11.7% in January, 4.8% in February and 19.2% in March earlier than slowing to 2.2% in April.
- Growth recovered to eight.9% in May, 6.7% in June and 6.4% in July, whereas international capability elevated by 9% in July.
The September figures due to this fact present stronger demand growth than in the previous months but additionally continued capability enlargement forward of passenger demand.
Airline seat capability surges in Nigeria in September
Nigeria recorded the quickest scheduled airline capability growth amongst Africa’s 10 largest aviation markets in September 2026, with a 37.4% year-on-year enhance, in keeping with OAG African Market information.
The nation added 322,800 seats to succeed in 1.19 million, recording the second-largest absolute enhance among the many markets tracked.
- Egypt recorded the biggest addition, with 364,800 seats, bringing its capability to three.08 million. Its growth price was 13.4%.
- Ghana and Tanzania recorded will increase of 12.9% and 11.7%, respectively. Morocco grew by 10%, whereas Algeria and South Africa recorded will increase of seven.6% and 6.6%.
- Ethiopia’s capability rose by 6.3%, whereas Tunisia and Kenya recorded extra modest will increase of three.2% and 0.8%, respectively.
OAG attributed Nigeria’s enlargement to forex reforms, a brand new plane leasing settlement and rising confidence amongst airlines searching for to function in the nation.
Across Africa, scheduled airline capability reached 25.8 million seats in September, up 9.4% year-on-year. International capability accounted for 78% of the overall and grew by 8.9%, whereas home capability elevated by 11.6%.
