Africa’s air travel sector recorded a 4.8% year-on-year increase in passenger demand in February 2026, according to the latest data released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), reflecting continued recovery and steady growth across global aviation markets.
Globally, total passenger demand measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK) rose by 6.1% compared to February 2025, while total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), increased by 5.6%. The average load factor climbed slightly to 81.4%, marking the highest February performance on record.
International passenger demand grew by 5.9% year-on-year, supported by increased travel activity across regions, while domestic demand rose by 6.3%, driven by strong performance in major markets such as Brazil and China. Capacity expansion across both segments largely kept pace with demand, maintaining stable load factors.
Brandspur Brand News reports that Africa’s aviation market, while showing positive growth in passenger demand, experienced a decline in load factor by 1.3 percentage points to 74.5%, despite a 6.6% increase in capacity year-on-year, indicating that seat supply slightly outpaced demand within the region.
The Middle East recorded modest growth of 0.9% in demand, with capacity rising faster at 3.8%, resulting in a drop in load factor. In contrast, Latin America posted the strongest regional growth at 13.5%, supported by a 9.3% increase in capacity and improved load factor performance.
Asia-Pacific airlines saw demand rise by 8.6%, boosted by seasonal travel linked to the Lunar New Year, while Europe recorded a 5.0% increase in demand and North America matched the same growth rate, reflecting stable international travel trends across both regions.
IATA Director General Willie Walsh noted that February’s performance reflected solid underlying demand fundamentals, though he cautioned that rising fuel costs and geopolitical uncertainties, particularly in the Middle East, could influence future capacity deployment and fare structures.
He added that airlines are already adjusting operations in response to tightening capacity and margin pressures, with fare increases becoming more evident in certain markets. Scheduled capacity growth for March has also been revised downward compared to earlier projections.
The overall data indicates that while global air travel continues to expand, regional disparities persist, with some markets experiencing stronger demand recovery than others, alongside varying pressure points in capacity, pricing, and operational efficiency.
The February figures reinforce the trajectory of gradual recovery in the aviation industry, with sustained passenger growth across both international and domestic segments, even as airlines navigate economic, geopolitical, and cost-related challenges.
