By Seun Ibiyemi
Nigeria’s domestic airline capacity grew by 6% year-on-year, rising from 642,717 seats in October 2024 to 681,204 seats in October 2025, according to data from OAG’s Africa Aviation Market, Monthly Airline Data Updates.
The report reaffirms Nigeria’s position as Africa’s second-largest domestic aviation market, behind South Africa, underscoring a steady recovery in local air travel demand despite persistent economic challenges and rising operational costs facing carriers.
South Africa maintained its dominance with 1.67 million domestic seats, reflecting a 16.6 per cent increase supported by higher frequencies on major routes such as Johannesburg–Cape Town and Durban–Johannesburg.
Kenya ranked third with 412,286 seats, a 4.9 per cent growth driven by strong performance on routes connecting Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu.
Across the continent, Tanzania recorded the fastest domestic growth, expanding 22.9 per cent to 407,684 seats, fueled by a tourism rebound and improved connectivity among key cities.
Egypt grew 8.4 per cent to 372,124 seats, while Algeria climbed 15.2 per cent to 342,899 seats. Other notable increases came from Morocco (up 12.2 per cent), DR Congo (up 5.2 per cent), and Ghana (up 13 per cent).
In contrast, Ethiopia saw an 8 per centcontraction in domestic capacity to 396,817 seats, a decline linked to the national carrier’s strategic pivot toward expanding international operations.
OAG also ranked Africa’s Top 10 Busiest Airports by Departing Seats for October 2025, led by Cairo International Airport with 1.63 million departing seats, a 7 per centrise year-on-year.
Johannesburg O.R. Tambo International Airport followed with 1.16 million seats (up 6 per cent), and Addis Ababa Bole International Airport placed third with 1.15 million seats, though down 4 per cent due to reduced regional traffic.
Rounding out the top ten were Casablanca Mohammed V (642,440 seats, up 9 per cent), Cape Town (594,489 seats, up 8 per cent), Marrakech Menara (556,849 seats, up 10 per cent), Algiers Houari Boumediene (538,071 seats, up 12 per cent), Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta (491,835 seats, up 5 per cent), Hurghada International (469,097 seats, up 13 per cent), and Lagos Murtala Muhammed International Airport, which handled 409,005 departing seats, up 6 per cent from last year.
The steady increase cements Lagos as West Africa’s busiest airport and underscores Nigeria’s vital role in regional and continental air connectivity.