By Samson Echenim
Following a steady recovery in international air travel across the continent, African airlines in September, recorded a 5.3% rise in passenger demand and raised capacity by at least 5.1% during the month.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) in its global passenger demand report for September 2025, also stated that African airlines load factor climbed up slightly to 74.7%.
According to IATA, the moderate business improvement for airlines in Africa in the month under review reflects a steady recovery in international air travel across the continent, driven primarily by intra-African routes and growing leisure and business travel.
“African airlines saw a 5.3% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity was up 5.1% year-on-year. The load factor was 74.7% (+0.1 ppt compared to September 2024),” the report stated.
During the month, Africa accounted for 2.2% of the global air passenger market, smaller than Asia-Pacific with 33.5%, Europe with 26.7%, and North America with 22.9%. The Middle East held 9.4%, and Latin America and the Caribbean 5.3%.
Globally, total passenger demand increased 3.6% compared to September 2024, with capacity up 3.7% and a load factor of 83.4%, down 0.1 percentage points from a year earlier. International demand rose 5.1%, with capacity up 5.2% and a load factor of 83.6%, while domestic demand increased 0.9%, with capacity up 1.1% and a load factor of 83.0%.
IATA Director General, Willie Walsh said that solid international demand drove most of September 2025’s 3.6% global passenger growth. Capacity expanded slightly faster at 3.7%, but load factors remained strong at 83.4%.
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