African airlines record 13.6% passenger growth in April

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for April 2025 global passenger demand showing that African airlines saw a 13.6 percent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity was up 8.9 percent year-on-year.

The load factor was 76.3 percent (+3.1 ppt compared to April 2024).

“April was a positive month for travel. Growth strengthened, especially for international demand which saw record load factors for the month. The return of the transatlantic market to growth is particularly encouraging. But there are some signs of fragility of consumer and business confidence with continued weakness in the US domestic market and a sharp fall in North American premium class travel,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), was up 8.0 percent compared to April 2024. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), was up 6.5 percent year-on-year. The April load factor was 83.6 percent (+1.1 ppt compared to April 2024).

International demand rose 10.8 percent compared to April 2024. Capacity was up 8.5 percent year-on-year, and the load factor was 84.1 percent (+1.7 ppt compared to April 2024), the highest ever for April.

Domestic demand increased 3.3 percent compared to April 2024. Capacity was up 3.1 percent year-on-year. The load factor was 82.7 percent (+0.1 ppt compared to April 2024).

Related News

International RPK growth accelerated to 10.8 percent in April year-on-year, with growth in all regions and load factors increasing everywhere except a slight fall in Latin America. Africa resumed growth after two months of declines, and North American international RPK grew (+5.4 percent), but suffered a 26 percent fall in First and Business class travel.

Asia-Pacific airlines achieved a 14.4 percent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 12.7 percent year-on-year and the load factor was 85.3 percent (+1.3 ppt compared to April 2024).

European carriers had a 9.4 percent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 7.7 percent year-on-year, and the load factor was 84.5 percent (+1.3 ppt compared to April 2024).

Middle Eastern carriers saw an 11.2 percent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 6.6 percent year-on-year and the load factor was 83.1 percent (+3.4 ppt compared to April 2024).

North American carriers saw a 5.4 percent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 2.6 percent year-on-year, and the load factor was 83.4 percent (+2.2 ppt compared to April 2024).

Latin American airlines saw a 13.9 percent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity climbed 14.6 percent year-on-year. The load factor was 83.2 percent (-0.6 ppt compared to April 2024).

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.