Kenya Airways and other African airlines could record good business in 2024 with projections showing they are set to carry 98 million passengers due to a steady rebound in air travel demand across the continent.
Since November 2023, passenger traffic carried by African airlines exceeded 2019 levels signaling hope for the aviation sector that was worst hit by the shut downs.
African Airlines Association (AFRAA) January 2024 data shows the performance of African airlines has significantly improved, signalling a positive trajectory for the region's aviation sector.
With the 2023 annual Airlines Performance yet to be released, AFRAA predicts that 2023 will see an increase in airline revenues and the narrowing of revenue gap compared to 2022.
The full year 2023 revenue shortfall of African airlines will be around US$200m (Sh30.6 billion) or less, compared to 2019 full year.
The 2022 full year passenger’s revenue gap was US$3.5 billion (Sh535.5 billion) for all African airlines combined, compared to 2019.
“At some major African airports (Johannesburg, Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Lusaka, Cairo, Casablanca, Abidjan and Lagos), intra-Africa connectivity reached or exceeded pre-Covid level since December 2022,” reads AFRAA monthly update.
In January 2023, African airlines' Revenue Passenger Kilometers (RPKs) were recorded at 2.06 percent above the levels of the same month in 2019, while available seat kilometers (ASKs) surged by 7.1 percent.
Cargo transportation also witnessed a noteworthy uptick, with 149.6 million kilograms moved to and from Africa in November 2023.
African airlines represented a significant portion, accounting for 30.8 percent of the total cargo volume.
In regulatory and industry affairs, Somalia recently regained control of its airspace management from Nairobi, marking a significant milestone in its aviation sector's development.
The transition to Class A airspace classification reflects Somalia's commitment to sovereignty and operational efficiency, with enhanced air traffic control services now in place.
