Airbus has released a study highlighting key unserved African routes in cities such as Lagos, Cape Town, Nairobi, Dakar, and Douala. These routes could provide greater connectivity for travelers. Additionally, these key unserved African routes could drive economic growth in local economies and provide a significant boost in revenue for airlines. The global aerospace and aviation leader also highlighted data on Africa from its latest Global Market Forecast (GMF).
Airbus touched on strategic recommendations to capitalize on the opportunities of a more connected continent. They also discussed Airbus’ capabilities to help realize this potential. “Our analysis pinpoints several critical routes within Africa that currently lack direct, scheduled flights, despite significant passenger traffic between these city pairs,” said Geert Lemaire, Market Intelligence and Consulting Director at Airbus. “Several factors contribute to these routes remaining unserved, including limitations set by bilateral air service agreements, economic considerations, and challenges related to capacity, flight frequency, and cost-efficiency.”
Lemaire continued, “Airbus possesses the in-house capability to analyze route and network development potential. We actively partner with African airlines to identify optimal fleet solutions that align with their network development needs. This will not only stimulate further growth within the continent’s air transport industry but also enhance connectivity for travelers.“
The GMF predicts robust 4.1% growth in overall air traffic over the next two decades. This translates to a projected demand for 1,180 new aircraft by 2043. The growth of the aviation sector in Africa is expected to drive a 3.3% real GDP increase, surpassing the global average of 2.6%. To keep pace with this air travel surge, Airbus’ Global Services Forecast estimates that Africa will require an additional 15,000 pilots, 20,000 technicians, and 24,000 cabin crew members.
