African airlines recorded a 2.2 percent increase in passenger demand in April, outperforming the global aviation industry as international air travel came under pressure from disruptions linked to the conflict in the Middle East, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
The industry body said global passenger demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), declined by 3.4 percent compared with April 2025, while airline capacity fell by 2.9 percent.
However, Africa remained among the few regions to maintain growth, with passenger traffic rising despite elevated fuel costs and growing uncertainty across international travel markets.
Capacity among African carriers increased by 1.2 percent during the month, while the region’s average load factor — a measure of seat occupancy — improved by 0.7 percentage points to 77.9 percent.
The figures underscore the resilience of Africa’s aviation sector at a time when global travel demand has been affected by geopolitical tensions and rising operating costs.
“The situation for air transport remains highly volatile,” IATA Director General Willie Walsh said.
“The cost of jet fuel more than doubled in April, which is pushing airfares up. Forward schedule data is showing a reduced offering in the coming months, indicating that airlines are balancing high fuel costs and weaker demand.”
According to IATA, the global decline was largely driven by the sharp downturn in traffic involving the Middle East, where airlines experienced a dramatic drop in passenger demand as the regional conflict disrupted travel patterns.
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Passenger demand among Middle Eastern carriers plunged 48.1 percent year-on-year in April, while capacity fell 38.4 percent. The region’s load factor dropped to 70.1 percent, among the weakest performances globally.
IATA said the collapse in demand linked to the conflict was severe enough to pull overall global traffic growth into negative territory.
Excluding the impact of the Middle East, global passenger demand would have increased by 1.2 percent during the month, the association said.
International travel was particularly affected, with global international passenger demand declining by 5.3 percent year-on-year. Domestic traffic remained broadly unchanged.
The disruption has also altered traditional travel flows between Europe and Asia. Airlines reported a growing number of passengers bypassing major Middle Eastern transit hubs, contributing to a 15.3 percent increase in direct Europe-Asia traffic.
Despite the broader slowdown, several regions continued to record growth.
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Latin American airlines posted the strongest performance globally with an 8.9 percent increase in passenger demand, followed by Asia-Pacific carriers with 3 percent growth.
European airlines reported a more modest increase of 0.9 percent.
For African carriers, the positive performance reflects the continued recovery of regional air travel, growing demand for business and leisure travel, and increasing connectivity across the continent.
Industry analysts note that African aviation has benefited from rising intra-African travel, tourism growth and efforts by governments and airlines to improve connectivity under initiatives linked to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
However, challenges remain. Rising fuel prices, foreign exchange shortages in some markets, infrastructure constraints and elevated operating costs continue to weigh on airline profitability across the continent.
Domestic markets worldwide delivered mixed results in April. Growth in Brazil, China and Japan helped offset declines in Australia, India and the United States.
China’s domestic passenger market expanded by 1.2 percent, while Japan recorded growth of 3.7 percent. India reported a 2.9 percent decline and the United States saw demand fall by 0.6 percent.
IATA said the outlook for the industry remains uncertain as airlines continue to navigate volatile fuel markets, shifting travel patterns and geopolitical risks that could influence passenger demand in the months ahead.
