By Benson Daniel
Africa’s 10 busiest airports are expected to account for a combined 8.35 million scheduled departing seats in August 2026, representing about 30.6 per cent of the continent’s total scheduled airline capacity for the month.
The figures indicate continued expansion in Africa’s aviation market, with the continent recording approximately 27.3 million scheduled seats in August, an 8.4 per cent increase compared with the same period last year.
Cairo International Airport retained its position as Africa’s busiest airport, with about 1.85 million scheduled departing seats during the month. Its capacity increased by 8.4 per cent year on year.
Addis Ababa Bole International Airport ranked second with approximately 1.25 million seats, also recording an 8.4 per cent annual increase, while Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport occupied the third position with 1.15 million seats, representing a 3.5 per cent rise.
Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca ranked fourth with 800,000 scheduled seats, following a 10.1 per cent increase in capacity. Algiers Airport came fifth with 680,000 seats, up 7.2 per cent compared with August 2025.
Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport recorded 570,000 scheduled seats, an increase of 10.5 per cent, while Cape Town International Airport accounted for 560,000 seats, representing a 6.5 per cent rise.
Tunis Carthage International Airport ranked eighth with 530,000 scheduled departing seats, up 7.3 per cent year on year.
Nigeria’s Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and Hurghada International Airport in Egypt completed the top 10, with each recording about 480,000 scheduled seats.
Lagos recorded the strongest year on year growth among the 10 busiest airports. Its scheduled capacity rose by 25.6 per cent, translating to an additional 98,400 seats compared with August 2025. Hurghada followed with an 18.6 per cent increase.
The broader aviation figures also point to stronger growth in Nigeria’s air transport market. Nigeria recorded the fastest growth among Africa’s top 10 country aviation markets, with scheduled airline seat capacity rising 37 per cent year on year to 1.22 million seats.
The country added approximately 330,700 scheduled seats compared with August 2025, driven largely by expansion in the domestic market. Domestic scheduled capacity increased by 42.6 per cent to 907,600 seats, representing an additional 271,000 seats.
Egypt remained Africa’s largest country aviation market with about 3.2 million scheduled seats, followed by South Africa with 2.34 million and Morocco with 2.21 million seats.
International aviation continued to dominate the continent’s airline capacity, accounting for about 21.5 million scheduled seats, or 79 per cent of total capacity. Domestic services contributed approximately 5.8 million seats and recorded an 11 per cent year on year increase.
Europe remained Africa’s largest international aviation market, accounting for 10.8 million scheduled international seats in August. The Middle East followed with approximately 4.93 million seats, with the two markets together representing more than 73 per cent of Africa’s international capacity.
The latest figures underscore the continued recovery and expansion of Africa’s aviation sector, with increasing airline capacity across major airports and stronger growth in several key markets.
For Nigeria, the significant increase in both domestic and international capacity highlights growing demand for air travel and the expanding role of Lagos as one of the continent’s major aviation gateways.
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