Domestic flights drive African aviation as regional connectivity lags
Demand is strong on domestic aviation routes, but there is still significant scope to improve connectivity between African regions.
Domestic air travel remains the primary mode of transportation for Africans, according to the African Airlines Association (AFRAA). Their half-year report, encompassing July to December 2025, indicates that domestic routes transported 13.4 million passengers, dwarfing intra-African flights with 9.3 million and international routes at 4.1 million.
South Africa and Nigeria dominate domestic air travel, owing to their expansive territories, multiple urban centers, and high domestic demand. The Cape Town-Johannesburg route emerged as the most popular, transporting 1.99 million passengers. However, connectivity between African regions remains a significant concern. Connectivity between Eastern and Western Africa stands at 7%, while Northern and Southern Africa only share 5% and Southern and Western Africa 3%.
The strongest regional link is 34% between Northern and Western Africa. Within regions, intra-North Africa boasts the highest connectivity at 74%, while intra-Eastern Africa and Southern Africa have 48% and 49%, respectively. A glaring gap exists in Central Africa, where Chad, Niger, and the Central African Republic exhibit minimal to no interconnections.
Nevertheless, regional corridors are bolstering African aviation. Notable corridors include Tripoli-Tunis, Harare-Johannesburg, Mogadishu-Nairobi, Algiers-Tunis, and Entebbe-Nairobi, reflecting economic integration, tourism, historical ties, and geographic proximity. These corridors act as bridges between economic hubs across Africa, driving regional mobility.
The report emphasizes that improving these links could stimulate trade, tourism, and overall economic growth across the continent.
Written by urgent.news from Africa Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
