African aviation market sees rising seat capacity and shifting airline dynamics

The African aviation market is experiencing significant capacity expansion. In September 2026, airlines serving Africa’s top 10 major markets scheduled 13.89 million seats, a notable increase from the 12.51 million seats recorded in September 2025. Egypt led these top markets with 3.08 million scheduled seats, representing 13.4% year-on-year growth.

South Africa’s aviation sector shows a unique recovery pattern. While passenger traffic through Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) airports has reached 98% of pre-pandemic levels, aircraft movements have only reached 93%. This disparity is attributed to market consolidation and the use of higher-capacity aircraft. Domestic carriers like FlySafair and Airlink have expanded, while former players such as Comair and Mango have exited the market. FlySafair, utilizing high-density Boeing 737 aircraft, now holds the majority of South Africa’s domestic seat capacity.

Despite these local developments, analysts note that South Africa’s recovery pace lags behind the broader continent. Other major markets saw substantial growth, including Nigeria, which recorded a 37.4% year-on-year increase in scheduled seats, and Morocco, which grew by 10%.