African Airlines Record Strong Passenger Growth Despite Global Air Travel Slowdown, IATA Reports
African airlines posted one of the strongest passenger growth performances in the global aviation industry in May 2026, defying a worldwide decline in air travel caused largely by the continuing conflict in the Middle East, according to the latest passenger traffic data released by the (IATA).
The report showed that while global passenger demand fell by 2.2 per cent compared with May 2025, African carriers recorded a 6.6 per cent increase in overall passenger traffic, underscoring the continent’s growing role in the recovery and expansion of international aviation.
According to IATA, African airlines also increased capacity by 7.0 per cent year-on-year, while maintaining a passenger load factor of 73.7 per cent.
On international routes, the continent performed even better, with demand rising by 8.9 per cent and capacity expanding by 8.3 per cent, lifting the international load factor to 73.4 per cent.
The association said Africa joined Latin America and Europe among the regions that continued to record healthy growth despite geopolitical tensions, elevated fuel costs and economic uncertainties affecting the global airline industry.
Globally, passenger demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), declined by 2.2 per cent, while airline capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), fell by 2.3 per cent compared with the same month last year.
Nevertheless, airlines achieved a record May passenger load factor of 83.5 per cent, indicating that flights remained highly occupied despite the decline in traffic.
IATA noted that if the Middle East were excluded from the calculations, global passenger demand would actually have increased by 0.7 per cent, highlighting the significant impact of the conflict on worldwide aviation performance.
International passenger demand declined by 1.6 per cent, while domestic traffic fell by 3.1 per cent. Capacity on international services decreased by 2.4 per cent, resulting in an international load factor of 83.7 per cent, an improvement of 0.7 percentage points over May 2025. Domestic services recorded a load factor of 83.0 per cent.
Commenting on the report, IATA Director General, , said the downturn in global passenger demand was driven overwhelmingly by the effects of the war in the Middle East.
He noted that airlines in the region experienced a 28.4 per cent year-on-year decline in passenger traffic during May, although this represented a considerable improvement from the 46.6 per cent contraction recorded in April.
Walsh said the figures demonstrated the resilience of airlines in the region, even as they continued to face operational disruptions and airspace restrictions.
He added that North America and Asia also experienced declines in overall passenger demand, largely reflecting weaker domestic markets in the United States and China.
According to Walsh, the industry has continued to demonstrate resilience despite persistently high fuel prices and elevated air fares.
Although recent declines in crude oil prices offer some optimism, he cautioned that uncertainty surrounding oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz means airlines are unlikely to experience immediate reductions in jet fuel costs.
He said airlines operating on narrow profit margins of about two per cent would likely continue adjusting fares to absorb increased operating expenses.
Across the regions, Europe recorded a 2.7 per cent increase in total passenger demand, while international traffic among European airlines rose by 3.8 per cent.
IATA attributed part of this growth to a 15 per cent increase in direct passenger services between Europe and Asia as carriers expanded non-stop connections.
Latin American airlines delivered another strong performance, with overall passenger traffic increasing by 6.1 per cent and international demand surging by 10.5 per cent. Capacity also expanded significantly across the region, contributing to one of the highest international load factors globally.
Asia-Pacific airlines recorded a 1.4 per cent decline in total passenger demand. However, international traffic still rose by 1.3 per cent despite capacity reductions linked partly to tighter jet fuel import restrictions in Vietnam, which affected short-haul operations within Asia.
North American carriers experienced a modest 0.8 per cent decline in total passenger demand, although international services remained in positive territory with one per cent growth.
The Middle East remained the hardest-hit aviation market worldwide, with total passenger demand plunging by 28.4 per cent and international traffic falling by 28.8 per cent.
Capacity also contracted sharply as airlines continued to grapple with the operational consequences of the regional conflict.
Domestic passenger markets presented mixed results. China recorded the largest decline among major domestic aviation markets, with traffic falling by 6.2 per cent.
IATA attributed the drop partly to higher air fares and the shift of the Dragon Boat Festival into June this year, reducing travel demand during May.
The United States also posted weaker domestic demand, declining by 1.9 per cent.
In contrast, India continued to lead global domestic aviation growth, with passenger demand rising by 10.1 per cent and capacity increasing by 7.9 per cent. Brazil and Japan also recorded moderate gains, while Australia’s domestic market remained broadly stable.
The latest figures suggest that although geopolitical instability continues to disrupt parts of the global aviation network, African airlines are strengthening their position through sustained passenger growth and expanding international connectivity, reinforcing the continent’s importance in the evolving global air transport market.
