African carriers emerged as the world’s strongest-performing aviation market in November 2025, outpacing global growth and underscoring the continent’s rising role in international air travel.
African airlines recorded an impressive 11.2% year-on-year increase in passenger demand in November 2025, making the region the stand-out performer worldwide, according to the latest data released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). This growth was nearly double the global average demand increase of 5.7% over the same period.
Capacity among African airlines expanded by 8.5% year-on-year, reflecting increased confidence by carriers in the strength and sustainability of travel demand. Importantly, this growth translated into stronger operational efficiency, with the region’s average load factor climbing to 74.3%, an improvement of 1.8 percentage points compared with November 2024.
While Africa currently accounts for 2.2% of the global passenger air travel market, the latest figures point to a region gaining momentum faster than any other, supported by recovering tourism flows, expanding regional connectivity and growing international links.
Globally, the aviation sector continued its steady upward trajectory in November. Total passenger demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs), rose 5.7% year-on-year, while capacity increased by 5.4%. As a result, the global load factor reached 83.7%, a record high for the month of November and a sign that airlines are effectively matching capacity with demand.
International travel remained the key driver of growth worldwide, with demand rising 7.7% compared to November 2024. Capacity expanded by 7.1%, pushing the international load factor to 84.0%, also a November record. Domestic markets grew more modestly, with demand up 2.7%, broadly in line with capacity growth.
Commenting on the results, IATA Director General, Willie Walsh, said the industry continues to see robust passenger appetite despite ongoing constraints. “Load factors reached a new record of 83.7% for the month as airlines continued to satisfy growing passenger demand amid continuing capacity constraints stemming from challenges in the aerospace supply chain”, he noted.
Across other regions, Asia-Pacific airlines posted strong growth of 7.8%, Europe saw demand rise 6.1%, and Middle Eastern carriers recorded a 9.5% increase. North America was the slowest-growing region, with demand edging up just 0.1% year-on-year.
For Africa, however, November’s results reinforce a clear positive narrative. With demand rising faster than capacity and load factors improving significantly, the continent’s airlines are demonstrating resilience and growth potential at a time when global aviation continues its post-pandemic normalisation.
As airlines worldwide look ahead to 2026, Africa’s performance stands out as a bright spot—signaling new opportunities for connectivity, tourism, and economic development across the region.