Airlines in Africa experienced the highest international passenger load factor (PLF) growth, climbing 3,2 percentage points year-on-year (YoY), Iata revealed in its April 2024 Air Passenger Market Analysis report.
Total usage of African airlines’ passenger carrying capacity increased by 2,6 percentage points during April 2023-24 to 73,4% while global PLF was 82,4%.
Africa’s demand for passenger air services, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), increased 15,7% YoY. Demand for international services grew 15,5% YoY.
Africa saw the highest RPK growth on routes to and from Asia Pacific. Demand for flights between the two regions climbed to 56,5% in April from 50,8% in March. Growth in Africa’s RPK for Europe flights slowed in April, with a 3,9% change YoY compared to March’s 4,1%.
Meanwhile, Africa’s total capacity, or available seat kilometres (ASK), grew 11,6% YoY and its international capacity 10,4%. The figure for global ASK growth was lower than the continent but still positive at 9,6%.