• African airlines increased passenger traffic by 7.8% in 2025, according to IATA.

• Africa posted the world’s lowest load factor at 74.9% despite rising capacity.

• Global supply-chain constraints cost airlines more than $11 billion in 2025, IATA said.

In 2025, African airlines increased passenger traffic by 7.8% compared with 2024, according to the latest report from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Airlines expanded capacity by 6.5% over the year, while the load factor rose by only 0.9 percentage point to 74.9%, the lowest level among all global regions. December data showed passenger traffic rising 10.3% year on year.

Other regions delivered stronger performance in both growth and capacity utilization. Asia-Pacific closed the year as the fastest-growing market, with international traffic rising 10% and the highest load factor globally at 84.4%.

Latin America followed with traffic growth of 8.6% and a load factor of 83.6%. The Middle East posted growth of 6.7% with a load factor of 81.6%. Europe recorded a 6% increase with a load factor of 84.1%, while North America reported growth of 2.1% with a load factor of 83.9%.

These results reflected strong global passenger flows, with worldwide traffic rising 5.3% in 2025. International traffic increased 7.1%, while domestic traffic grew 2.4% compared with 2024.

According to IATA, the current momentum allowed the industry “to restore sector growth in line with historical trends following the sharp post-COVID rebound.” However, the sustained rise in traffic highlighted two major challenges: decarbonization and supply-chain constraints.

“Governments whose economies grow thanks to aviation and whose citizens demand connectivity must provide a favorable fiscal framework to rapidly accelerate progress, particularly in the energy sector, to develop sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production,” IATA said. “The second challenge, linked to supply-chain constraints, represented the biggest headache for airlines in 2025.”

IATA added that travelers showed strong demand, but airlines faced repeated setbacks from unreliable delivery schedules for new aircraft and engines, limited maintenance capacity, and rising costs. The association estimated the resulting cost impact at more than $11 billion.

These challenges could intensify in 2026 if conditions fail to improve. IATA forecasts passenger traffic growth of 4.4% compared with 2025, with global flows reaching about 5.2 billion travelers.

This article was initially published in French by Henoc Dossa

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de BERRY QUENUM