…As African airlines passengers’ growth Hit 10.3% In December – IATA
By Charles Ebi
Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has led a high-level delegation to the Airline Economics Growth Frontiers Global Conference in Dublin, Republic of Ireland, as part of efforts to deepen international partnerships in aviation financing and fleet renewal.
In a statement in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood, the Ministry said Nigeria’s participation at the conference places the country firmly within global conversations on aircraft financing, airline competitiveness and sustainable growth in the aviation sector.
The annual conference brings together aircraft lessors, financiers, airline executives and policymakers from across the world, offering Nigeria a strategic platform to engage partners on access to modern aircraft, balance-sheet optimisation for airlines and long-term sector development.
Part of the statement read: “The Minister’s delegation comprises key industry leaders and regulators, including the Director General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Capt. Chris Ona Najomo; Director, Air Traffic Management, Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Ahmed Tijani; and prominent airline chief executives such as Toyin Olajide ,Air Peace, Dr. Obiora Okonkwo ,United Nigeria Airlines, and Mr. George Urensi ,Ibom Air, among other stakeholders.
“For the second successive year, the Nigerian contingent stole the spotlight at the conference, with participants recalling the Minister’s heroic performance and compelling oratory presentation at last year’s edition. This year’s engagement further reinforced Nigeria’s growing influence and credibility within the global aviation financing community”.
The statement noted that Nigeria’s aviation reform agenda gained added traction on the second day of the conference, when Keyamo led discussions with Aercap, the world’s largest aircraft leasing company. The Aercap delegation was headed by its Chief Executive Officer, Angus Kelly.
“Nigeria’s aviation transformation agenda gained further momentum on Day Two of the conference when the Honourable Minister led the delegation in a pivotal strategic meeting with Aercap, the world’s largest aircraft leasing company. The Aercap team was led by its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Angus Kelly.
“Discussions focused on building a long-term strategic partnership aligned with Nigeria’s fleet modernisation objectives and the urgent need to strengthen operational capacity among Nigerian airline operators. The engagement explored innovative leasing solutions, flexible financing structures, and practical pathways for fleet renewal to support Nigerian airlines’ access to modern, fuel-efficient aircraft”.
According to the statement, these steps are critical to improving efficiency, strengthening safety standards, lowering operating costs and positioning Nigerian airlines to compete more effectively on both regional and international routes.
The minister and his delegation also held separate high-level talks with Afreximbank, led by Executive Vice President for Intra-African Trade and Export Development, Kanayo Awani, alongside Helen Brume, Director and Global Head of Project and Asset-Based Finance.
“The meeting reinforced Nigeria’s strategic intent to deepen aviation finance partnerships and leverage Afreximbank’s catalytic role in supporting African carriers through structured financing, trade-enabling instruments, and risk-mitigation solutions.
“Discussions underscored a shared commitment to a collaborative government–industry approach that places aviation at the centre of economic growth, regional integration, and intra-African trade. Particular emphasis was placed on fleet development, airline sustainability, and the creation of financing frameworks capable of unlocking long-term value for Nigeria’s aviation ecosystem”.
The statement added that through these engagements, the minister is advancing a proactive, market-oriented aviation diplomacy aimed at keeping Nigeria attractive to global lessors, financiers and investors, while strengthening the safety, competitiveness and sustainability of the country’s aviation sector.
Meanwhile, the African airlines saw passenger traffic soar 10.3% in December 2025, marking one of the strongest monthly performances for the region in recent history.
This is according to the International Air Transport Association 2025 full-year and December passenger market performance report.
The increase highlights growing demand for air travel within Africa and reflects a robust recovery driven by holiday travel, improved connectivity, and rising interest in both domestic and regional flights.
For the full year 2025, African airlines recorded 7.8% growth in passenger demand compared to 2024, while capacity rose 6.5%.
The region’s load factor, which measures seat occupancy, climbed 0.9 percentage points to 74.9%, setting a record high for Africa. December 2025 alone saw the largest monthly growth for African airlines, reflecting strong seasonal travel and sustained recovery momentum.
“African airlines’ annual traffic rose 7.8% in 2025 versus the prior year. Full year 2025 capacity was up 6.5% and load factor climbed 0.9 ppt to 74.9%. This was the lowest load factor among regions, but a record high for Africa and the strongest load factor increase of any region. December 2025 traffic for African airlines rose 10.3% over December 2024″, the report read in part.
Globally, 2025 saw record-high air travel demand. Total passenger traffic rose 5.3% over 2024, with capacity up 5.2%, pushing the global load factor to 83.6%, a full-year record.
International travel led growth, with demand up 7.1% and capacity up 6.8%, while domestic demand grew 2.4% and load factor edged down 0.1 percentage point to 83.7%. In December 2025, overall demand rose 5.6%, capacity increased 5.9%, and load factor reached 83.7%.
Asia-Pacific airlines posted 10.9% growth in full-year international traffic, with capacity up 10.2% and a load factor of 84.4%, the highest of any region. December demand for the region grew 7.5% year-on-year.
European carriers saw 6.0% full-year international traffic growth, with capacity rising 5.9% and load factor improving 0.1 percentage point to 84.1%. December demand climbed 8.4% compared to the previous year.
Middle Eastern airlines experienced 6.7% traffic growth for the full year, with capacity up 5.8% and load factor rising 0.7 percentage points to 81.6%. December demand jumped 9.5% year-on-year.
North American carriers recorded the slowest growth, with 2.1% full-year traffic growth, capacity up 2.4%, and load factor down 0.2 percentage points to 83.9%. December traffic rose 3.5%.
Latin American airlines saw 8.6% growth in full-year traffic, with capacity expanding 10.2%, resulting in a 1.2 percentage point decline in load factor to 83.6%. December demand grew 8.2%.
IATA Director General Willie Walsh said that 2025 saw demand for air travel grow by 5.3%, with international demand growing 7.1% and domestic by 2.4%. He added that the strong and continuous increase in demand highlights two key challenges: decarbonization and the supply chain.
Walsh explained that decarbonization is critical for protecting long-term growth and that governments whose economies benefit from aviation and whose citizens crave connectivity must provide supportive policies to accelerate Sustainable Aviation Fuel production.
He noted that supply chain challenges, including aircraft and engine delivery delays, maintenance constraints, and cost increases estimated at over $11 billion, remain a major headache for airlines.
Load factors just shy of 84% show that temporary measures, such as keeping aircraft in service longer and filling more seats, worked, but long-term solutions are needed. He added that every new aircraft adds capacity, efficiency, and cleaner operations, which is what airlines and their customers want.
In November 2025, African airlines posted the strongest growth in global air cargo demand, with volumes rising 15.6% year-on-year. Available cargo capacity for African carriers increased 18.1%, the largest growth of any region for the month.
Globally, air cargo demand grew 5.5%, with international shipments up 6.9%. Global capacity rose 4.7%, and 6.5% for international operations, reflecting strong seasonal demand and strategic trade re-routing.
Other regions recorded mixed results. Asia-Pacific airlines saw demand rise 10.3% and capacity increase 8.4%. European carriers posted 5.8% growth in demand with 4.1% higher capacity.
Middle Eastern airlines grew demand 7.4% and capacity 11%. In contrast, North American carriers faced a slight decline, with demand down 1.6% and capacity down 2.3%, while Latin American and Caribbean airlines recorded demand falling 4.8% and capacity decreasing 3.0%.
