Africa’s commercial aircraft fleet will more than double over the next two decades, creating demand for 1,165 new planes and 75,000 additional aviation workers, according to a new forecast from Boeing.
The US aircraft manufacturer expects the continent’s fleet to increase from 755 planes in 2025 to 1,625 by 2045, Reuters reported, citing Boeing’s latest Commercial Market Outlook.
Boeing estimates that the expansion will also create a $140 billion aviation-services market covering aircraft maintenance, repairs, modifications and digital services.
The projection does not mean African airlines have ordered 1,165 Boeing aircraft. The total represents Boeing’s estimate of deliveries from all manufacturers, including Airbus and producers of smaller regional aircraft.
**Smaller aircraft will drive most of the growth**
Boeing expects single-aisle aircraft to account for 870 of the projected deliveries. These planes are commonly used for domestic and regional flights and include models such as the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 families.
The forecast also includes 240 wide-body aircraft for longer international routes, 40 regional jets and 15 freighters.
Africa’s dedicated cargo fleet is expected to grow from approximately 60 aircraft to 150, supported by demand for transporting flowers, pharmaceuticals, agricultural exports and e-commerce parcels.
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Boeing expects passenger traffic within Africa to increase by 6.5% annually through 2045. Traffic between Africa and the Middle East is projected to grow even faster, at 7.1% a year.
That growth assumes airlines can overcome persistent obstacles including high ticket prices, limited direct connections, expensive aviation fuel, airport charges and restrictions on travel between some African countries.
Many journeys between African cities still require passengers to connect through Europe or the Middle East, increasing both fares and travelling time.
**Africa will also need thousands of trained workers**
Aircraft purchases represent only part of the investment required. Boeing estimates that African aviation will need 22,000 additional pilots, 25,000 technicians and 28,000 cabin crew over the next 20 years.
The technician requirement is particularly significant because several African airlines still send aircraft and major components abroad for specialised maintenance. Developing more certified facilities on the continent could allow African companies to capture a larger share of Boeing’s projected $140 billion services market.
Major carriers including Ethiopian Airlines, EgyptAir and Kenya Airways are likely to account for part of the expansion. Ethiopian Airlines is already developing a $12.5 billion airport near Addis Ababa, designed to support its growth as an international passenger and cargo hub.
However, Boeing’s figures remain forecasts rather than commitments. Airlines may acquire used aircraft, lease planes instead of purchasing them or delay expansion if financing costs, economic conditions and infrastructure problems make new routes unprofitable.
The opportunity is therefore not simply the delivery of more aircraft. The larger test is whether African airlines, training institutions and maintenance companies can capture the jobs and services expected to accompany the continent’s expanding fleet.