African Tourism and Aviation Boom Leaves Rivals Behind

A new white paper reveals double-digit growth across Africa’s top five aviation markets. The Africa Travel and Tourism Association (ATTA) released the report at ITB Berlin. It highlights a resurgence in airlift driving tourism numbers upward. This growth is leaving rival regions in the dust, according to ATTA CEO Kgomotso Ramothea.

Record-Breaking Air Capacity

During the first 10 months of 2026, Africa offered 182.4 million departure seats. This marks a 13.7% increase from 160.4 million in the same 2025 period. The data comes from ATTA’s white paper ‘Africa in the Air,’ produced by OAG.

Western Europe Drives Demand

Western Europe is the biggest driver of travel demand to Africa. Key source markets include the UK, France, Italy, and the Netherlands. These countries find South, East, and North Africa hugely appealing. The Middle East remains the second largest market. It currently accounts for 21.2 million scheduled seats for 2026.

Africa’s Big Five Markets

Egypt remains the continent’s biggest market. It has 30.9 million departure seats from January to October 2026. This represents a 12.6% increase from 2025. South Africa follows with 26.8 million seats, a 19.6% jump. Morocco ranks third with 22.5 million seats, up 21.8%. Ethiopia saw remarkable 31.2% growth, reaching 17 million seats. Kenya rounds out the top five with 10.2 million seats, a 22.3% increase.

Top African Airlines

The leading African international airlines by departing seats are:

• Ethiopian Airlines: 23.8 million seats
• EgyptAir: 10.28 million seats
• Safair: 10.27 million seats
• Royal Air Maroc: 9.1 million seats
• Air Algerie: 7.3 million seats

North vs. South Africa

North Africa leads in volume with 71.1 million seats for 2026. However, Eastern Africa shows the fastest growth. Seat numbers there jumped 24.3% to 46.5 million. Southern Africa increased 19.1% to 35.5 million seats. Central and Western Africa remain steady at about 29.2 million seats.

Strong Performance Metrics

UN Tourism figures place five African countries among the top 20 performing destinations globally. These are Egypt, South Africa, Ethiopia, Morocco, and the Seychelles. IATA data shows African passenger demand grew 9% in early 2025. This is more than double the global figure of 4%.
“Africa offers everything from culture and beaches to wildlife and adventure,” said Ramothea. Airlines serving the continent often fly at 90% capacity. Visiting Friends and Relatives traffic accounts for a large portion. Business travel is also growing as corporations value face-to-face meetings.

North Africa’s Low-Cost Carrier Boost

North African destinations benefit significantly from low-cost carrier traffic. Morocco has an open skies agreement with the EU. It will see 9.6 million mainline seats and 10.6 million LCC seats in 2026. Ryanair and easyJet hold fair market shares. Egypt, while lacking such an agreement, still benefits. Over 9 million LCC seats are scheduled, about a third of its total.

Untapped Potential in Americas

North America remains a key market for East and South Africa. However, interest in West Africa is growing. South America also holds potential, currently driven largely by South African Airways. There is talk of Mexico becoming a lucrative market, particularly for South Africa.

Easing Visa Restrictions Drives Growth

Full implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market is crucial. However, easing visa restrictions also plays a key role. Algeria introduced a visa-on-arrival scheme for tourists visiting the southern Sahara. This led to an immediate 10% increase in international tourism in 2024. Rwanda’s 2018 visa-on-arrival scheme similarly boosted traffic. “Even the smallest tweaks to visas can boost tourism growth,” Ramothea noted.

Future Outlook

Africa was the UN’s fastest-growing tourism destination in 2025. Maintaining this success requires coordinated effort. ATTA works with members to position African countries positively. The focus is on addressing challenges, not brushing them aside.
Ensuring tourism revenues stay on the continent is vital. One country’s success benefits its neighbors. Ethiopian Airlines exemplifies sustainable growth. Construction began on a new US$12.5 billion airport at Bishoftu. Set to open in 2030, the airline is funding 30% of the cost. This public-private partnership model is what Africa needs.
“With tourist boards building demand, airlines can add new routes and capacity. Pair that with further visa relaxation, and we can ensure Africa remains the fastest-growing tourist region well into the future,” Ramothea concluded.