African aviation sector growth and challenges

The African aviation sector is experiencing significant growth, with expansion rates in the continent outpacing the global average of 2.6%. While North Africa is currently the leading sub-region in terms of volume—driven by capacity increases from carriers such as Air Algérie and Royal Air Maroc—other regions are seeing specialized developments in cargo and logistics.

In West Africa, the air cargo market is outperforming global trends, fueled by the Africa-Asia corridor and shifts in freight routing. Senegal is working to establish Blaise Diagne International Airport as a major hub, with plans for a new cargo terminal to handle 80,000 tonnes annually by 2028. Additionally, Mauritania is developing specialized cold-chain facilities in Nouadhibou to support its fisheries industry.

However, the sector faces internal challenges regarding intra-African passenger travel. High taxes, airport levies, and regulatory fees significantly inflate regional airfares, sometimes making them more expensive than long-haul flights to Europe. In some nations, these costs represent 35 to 70 percent of a ticket price, potentially hindering regional tourism and trade.