Africa’s airlines stand out in global aviation market

Staff Writer

Africa’s airlines stood out in a global aviation market that remained uneven in May 2026, as the continent posted one of the strongest growth performances despite broader international headwinds.

According to data released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), African carriers recorded an 8.9% year-on-year increase in passenger demand.

Capacity also expanded, rising 8.3%, while the load factor improved slightly to 73.4%, up 0.4 percentage points compared to May 2025.