Iata’s published data for February 2024 shows that African airlines saw passenger volumes increase by 20,7% year-on-year, compared with February 2023.
The overall global demand for air travel, which is measured in revenue passenger kilometres, or RPKs, and combines international and domestic traffic, increased by 21,5%. Meanwhile, capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), expanded by 18,7%.
While Africa accounted for 2,1% of the global airline passenger market, African airlines experienced an increase in capacity of 22,1% year-on-year, and the load factor fell by 0,8 percentage points to 74%.
“There is good reason to be optimistic about the industry’s prospects in 2024 as airlines accelerate investments in decarbonisation and passenger demand shows resilience in the face of geopolitical and economic uncertainties. It is critical that politicians resist the temptation of cash grabs with new taxes that could destabilise this positive trajectory and make travel more expensive,” said Willie Walsh, Iata’s Director General.
According to Iata, the positive growth in demand and capacity seen in the report is likely exaggerated due to 2024 being a leap year and February having an extra day compared with 2023.
