African airlines recorded a significant 12.4% year-on-year increase in international passenger demand for November 2024, marking a strong recovery in the continent’s air travel industry. This surge in demand is a clear indication of the resilience and steady growth of African carriers as they continue to rebound from the global disruptions of the past few years. To meet this growing demand, capacity in the region grew by 6.0%, with airlines either adding more flights or deploying larger aircraft. The load factor, which measures the percentage of seats filled, also rose to 72.9%, up by 4.1 percentage points compared to November 2023, reflecting the growing efficiency of African airlines in utilizing their available capacity.
The data, provided by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in its report for international passenger markets in November 2024, highlights the broader trends in the global aviation market, with many regions showing strong growth. While African airlines have demonstrated impressive growth, airlines in other parts of the world also experienced notable increases in passenger demand. The Asia-Pacific region, for instance, led the global growth with a 19.9% year-on-year increase, while European carriers saw a 9.4% rise in international passenger demand.
The overall global aviation sector recorded an 8.1% increase in demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), with capacity rising by 5.7%. This is further evidence that air travel is steadily recovering, but ongoing challenges, such as supply chain issues in aircraft manufacturing, continue to hinder airlines from fully meeting the rising demand. The IATA’s Director General, Willie Walsh, emphasized the importance of resolving these challenges quickly to enable airlines to better serve passengers and modernize their operations.
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