As Africa’s youthful population continues to grow, those people will seek opportunities to travel over the next 20 years, and this is expected to lead to a doubling of the continent’s commercial aircraft fleet in that time, Boeing revealed at the recent Aviation Africa Conference 2024, held at the Sandton Convention Centre.
“Africa, over this 20-year period, is expected to have 2,1% population growth, driven by an exceptionally young population. This is important because we are looking at the travellers of tomorrow and where they come from,” explained Mark Pilling, an aviation media, publishing and data services consultant.
According to Boeing’s 2024 Commercial Market Outlook, Africa will receive deliveries of more than 800 new single-aisle jets to account for annual increases in passenger traffic of 6,4% over the next 20 years.
The continent’s air traffic is expected to treble by 2043, representing the third-highest growth rate among the ten regions tracked by Boeing.
According to Pilling, there is a strong correlation between GDP and demand for travel. GDP is projected to grow by 2,6% over the next 20 years, thus fleet growth will be over 3%.
Pilling says this young African population will grow particularly in urban areas and Boeing expects that, by 2043, Africa will be second only to China in terms of urban population.
Boeing expects that 82% of the 1 170 aircraft deliveries over the next 20 years will be for African fleet expansion. Aviation services across the continent will see 5,7% average annual growth as the fleet more than doubles.
Africa’s young population will have to contribute to the demand for a trebling of the region’s active aviation personnel in the next 20 years. 76 000 new pilots, maintenance technicians and cabin crew will be needed.
