African airlines recorded modest growth in April 2026, standing out as one of the few bright spots in an otherwise declining global air travel market weighed down by conflict in the Middle East, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
While global passenger demand fell by 3.4 per cent year-on-year, African carriers posted a 2.8 per cent increase in traffic, highlighting the continent’s relative resilience amid widespread industry volatility.
IATA data shows that the global decline was largely driven by a steep collapse in Middle Eastern markets. Excluding the region, worldwide demand would have grown by 1.2 per cent.
Total capacity declined by 2.9 percent globally, while the average passenger load factor eased slightly to 83.1 percent, down 0.4 percentage points from April 2025.
International travel bore the brunt of the downturn, with demand falling by 5.3 percent. However, when Middle Eastern markets are excluded, international demand rose by 1.9 per cent. Capacity dropped by 5.1 per cent, with load factor at 83.9 per cent.
Domestic travel remained flat overall, with a marginal 0.8 per cent increase in capacity and a slight dip in load factor to 81.9 per cent.
IATA Director General, Willie Walsh, said the scale of the disruption in the Middle East overshadowed gains elsewhere.
“The 46.6 per cent fall in demand for carriers in the Middle East due to war in the region was so acute that it dragged overall demand down 3.4 per cent”, Walsh said. “The situation for air transport remains highly volatile”.
He added that rising operational costs are compounding the challenge. “The cost of jet fuel more than doubled in April, pushing airfares higher. Forward schedules indicate reduced capacity in the coming months as airlines respond to weaker demand and escalating costs.”
Regional Performance
African airlines saw demand rise by 2.8 percent, with capacity increasing by 2.0 per cent and load factor improving to 77.7 per cent.
Elsewhere, Asia-Pacific carriers recorded a 1.7 per cent increase in demand, while European airlines saw a modest 0.8 per cent rise. Latin American carriers led global growth with a 5.0 per cent increase, and North America remained largely flat with a slight 0.3 percent dip.
In contrast, Middle Eastern airlines experienced a sharp 46.6 per cent decline in demand, accompanied by a 37.2 per cent drop in capacity. Load factor in the region fell significantly to 70.6 per cent.
International Markets
On international routes, African airlines posted a 2.2 percent increase in demand, with load factor improving to 77.9 per cent.
Asia-Pacific carriers recorded a 3.0 percent rise in demand, achieving a record April load factor of 87.5 per cent.
European airlines saw a 0.9 per cent increase, supported by a surge in direct Europe-Asia traffic as routes shifted away from Middle Eastern hubs.
North American demand remained flat, while Latin American carriers posted strong growth of 8.9 percent.
Middle Eastern airlines continued to experience severe disruption, with demand plunging by 48.1 per cent.
Although the decline moderated slightly compared to March, traffic remained heavily impacted by the ongoing Iran conflict and fragile ceasefire conditions.
Domestic Markets
Domestic air travel remained unchanged globally, as gains in Brazil, China, and Japan were offset by declines in Australia, India, and the United States.
Load factors weakened across most major domestic markets, except in China and Japan. Notably, Japan has recorded eight consecutive months of declining capacity.
Outlook
IATA said the global aviation outlook remains uncertain, with geopolitical instability and rising fuel costs continuing to weigh on airline performance.
Despite these headwinds, Africa’s steady growth offers a measure of optimism, even as the broader industry navigates one of its most volatile periods in recent years.