Africa’s huge population accounts for just 2% of global air traffic despite representing 18% of the world’s population, according to a report by the Atlantic Council.
The report, titled Opening Africa’s Skies to Trade, Growth, and Jobs, said Africa remains the world’s most expensive, least connected and most underserved aviation market.
It said the disparity is driven mainly by the high cost and inconvenience of air travel within the continent, rather than a lack of demand.
The report said limited connectivity and expensive airfares are preventing Africa from fully developing its aviation market.
“
Africa is home to 18 percent of the world’s population, but only 2 percent of its air transport activity,
” the report stated,
“
Cost relative to income and inconvenience are the main drivers of this disparity, rather than demand,”
it added.
Passengers can sometimes pay more and spend longer travelling between African countries than on longer journeys outside the continent.
Less than 20% of African airline traffic operates on intra-African routes, compared with about 60% within Europe.
The report also noted that 21 million Africans lived in another African country as of 2020, with about 80% of African migrants remaining within the continent.
More than 70% of Africa’s air service agreements are restrictive, limiting flight frequencies, aircraft types and routes, while some restrict airlines from carrying passengers onward to third countries.
The report said these restrictions are about twice the level in Asia and have contributed to Africa’s fragmented aviation market.
The report recommended greater implementation of the African Union’s Single African Air Transport Market, removal of capacity restrictions and stronger competition among airlines.
Stronger air connectivity could support the African Continental Free Trade Area by making it easier to move people and high-value, time-sensitive goods across borders.
The sector currently contributes about $75 billion to Africa’s GDP and supports an estimated 8.1 million jobs, according to the report.
The report said removing barriers to intra-African air travel could therefore unlock wider economic opportunities beyond the aviation sector.
The African Union (AU) unveiled a $30 billion plan in October 2025 to modernise airports and airspace systems across the continent over the next decade, as African countries seek to address infrastructure gaps that have limited air connectivity.
The plan is aimed at improving aviation safety and efficiency while strengthening connectivity across African markets.
The AU plans to mobilise $10 billion in public funding and attract an additional $20 billion from private and institutional investors.
The modernisation strategy also includes digital and green technologies such as Airport Collaborative Decision-Making (A-CDM), System-Wide Information Management (SWIM) and renewable energy solutions.
Nigeria is among the African countries that have signed up to the initiative, with the Federal Government expressing support for its implementation.
The focus on infrastructure, connectivity and market liberalisation comes against the backdrop of Africa accounting for just 2% of global air transport activity despite having 18% of the world’s population.
