Nigeria Records 10% Growth in Passenger Traffic as IATA Predicts 6% Performance for Africa

Chinedu Eze

Nigeria has recorded over 10 per cent growth in the air transport sector, just as the International Air Transport Association (IATA) predicted that in 2026, Africa would record six per cent growth, to rank highest globally.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, who disclosed this, said Nigeria emerged as the second-largest domestic passenger market in Africa, recording over 10.5 million passengers with a 10 per cent year-on-year growth.

Kuku however said to maintain the growth tempo, Nigeria and Africa must focus on airport infrastructure and other needs, remarking that the future of African aviation will depend not only on infrastructure, but also on partnership, innovation, resilience, and the courage to think long term.

She stated that the Murtala Muhammed International Airport recorded 11.8 per cent growth in air traffic movements in 2025, the highest among Africa’s leading airports. The airport also ranked among the continent’s top performers in cargo, posting a 34.4 per cent increase, the highest within the top 10.

Kuku also disclosed that both the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, ranked among Africa’s top 10 busiest airports, adding that Nigeria is Africa’s second-largest domestic passenger market.

On the growth of the African region in air travel, the IATA Regional Vice President, Africa and the Middle East, Kamil Alawadhi, said that Africa’s six per cent growth would outperform global average, which is put at 4.9 per cent in 2026.

Alawadhi said Africa’s passenger traffic would double by 2044, as East Africa would lead the expected passenger growth in the continent, projecting passenger growth rate of 400 million per annum.

Also, Africa passenger demand has risen to 11.9 per cent, which is higher than global average. Africa cargo demand is up by 21 per cent, while global cargo demand went up to 11.2 per cent, a development, which IATA said, would position aviation sector to power prosperity in Africa.

Alawadhi disclosed that aviation would be supporting 8.1 million jobs in Africa with total GDP of $75 billion, and that tourism catalyctic GDP support by aviation would reach 442 billion, as annual passenger growth in the continent is 110 million. Africa has 2.9 per cent of global passenger traffic with annual air freight of 1.2 million/tonnes.

However, IATA noted that profitability by the airlines on the continent remained grounded and markets static, adding that in comparison, profits vary across regions and that North America and Europe are leaders in profitability.

In terms of global traffic, Africa generates the least. In the year 2000, Africa generated two per cent, Asia Pacific, 25 per cent, Europe, 27 per cent, Middle East, three per cent Latin America, five per cent and North America, 38 per cent.

But there were slight changes in 2025, as Africa retained its two per cent, Asia Pacific climbed 34 per cent, Europe retained 27 per cent with Latin America, five per cent and North America went down to 22 per cent.

According to IATA, Africa faces challenging operating environment. It is projected that the region would record only $200 million net profit in 2026, although it will have six per cent passenger demand in 2026, faster than global average, but it will be moderated.

According to IATA, Africa offers highest unit cost globally, which is double industry average and fuel cost is major contribution. In other words, there is high operation cost in Africa and possibly the highest across the regions.

The region has fragmented market and therefore limited economy of scale. Age of aircraft in the continent is on average of five years older than global average age and older aircraft make more demand on fuel and maintenance.

Also, corporate tax paid in Africa is the highest rate global; in fact, 28 per cent higher than other regions.

In the area of infrastructure, IATA said that there was increased demand for infrastructure investment and service level in most Africa and Indian Ocean region because the airports require expansion and restoration. “There is also limited or no airline consultation on major Capital Expenditure (capex) and government subsidies are withdrawn in most of the airports. Also, charges are misaligned with service. In other words, airports and others offer mediocre service and charge highly for it,” IATA said.

IATA said most of these were airports that were just built without airlines giving specification and charges do not reflect the quality of service most often air travellers and airlines are over charged in most countries in Africa.

Africa’s priorities in air travel include safety and security because of terrorism; blocked funds, as 80 per cent of the blocked funds are owed by countries in Africa and Africa records very high cost of operation and has limited connectivity due to the unwillingness of countries in the continent to fully embrace the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), which aims to liberalise Africa’s airspace and remove immigration barriers for seamless travel across the continent.

Top safety priorities in Africa include improvement of runway safety, enhanced accident investigation reports’ completion and publication; effective implementation of the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP), which Nigeria scored over 94 per cent in 2026. Another safety priority of African nations is the Collaborative Aviation Safety Improvement Programme (CASIP).

IATA said it would be committed to two main safety projects in Africa and these include airport ramp safety inspection, where a team of professional inspectors will carry out ramp inspection on three carefully selected airports within Africa. A detailed report will be provided to the airport and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The second priority is a full review of 8-16 state safety programme (SSP) that will be conducted. So, a unified SSP will be developed and provided to the state.

On blocked funds, IATA said that airline funds blocked from repatriation by governments was $970 million which are blocked globally and 80 per cent of this amount is blocked in Africa, as follows: Algeria, $258 million; XAF Zone (Central African nations), $105 million: Mozambique, $82 million; Eritrea, $78 million and Angola, $73 million. So, 80 per cent of blocked funds are in Africa and there are 23 African countries with blocked funds.

Compared to global average, Africa is adjudged the region with the highest cost of doing business, where fuel cost is higher by over 17 per cent, maintenance cost, insurance and cost of capital higher by over 6-10 per cent. It has about $0.8 billion airline blocked funds and taxes, fees and charges paid in Africa are over 12 per cent higher globally. Air navigation charges are over 10 per cent high and flight ticket prices are also very high.

Alawadhi noted that government support was essential to unlock aviation’s potential in Africa. He urged governments in Africa to make aviation their priority; improve safety by implementing the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards and improve safety and security oversight.

IATA also urged that government should reduce cost of operation on airlines with excessive taxes and charges levelled against then; that African nations prioritise aviation by giving easy access of foreign exchange and simplify repatriation process.

Industry pundits asserted that if African nations fully embrace SSATM to promote seamless air travel on the continent it would improve all the indices in air travel. This, they said, would promote trade across African nations, and strengthen their currencies and that payment would no more be denominated by international currencies.

According to them, this is why the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is important for the continent.