LAGOS – African airlines outperformed all global regions in international passenger demand growth in June 2026, recording a 6.7% year-on-year increase as regional travel networks expanded.
According to data released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), total passenger demand across the continent also rose 3.8% compared to the same period last year.
Carriers across Africa expanded international capacity by 7.0% year-on-year. This capacity growth slightly outpaced traffic demand, pushing the international load factor down 0.3 percentage points to 74.2%.
Africa’s strong performance stood out against a weakening global aviation backdrop. Overall global passenger demand fell 1.7% year-on-year in June, while international travel worldwide slipped 0.9%.
Global traffic was weighed down by domestic market declines in major economies, including China and the United States, alongside ongoing operational disruptions across the Middle East.
Africa outpaced Latin America’s 3.5% international growth and Europe’s 1.5% increase. However, rising jet fuel costs and foreign exchange pressures remain operational challenges for carriers across the continent.
