The African aviation sector demonstrated sustained momentum in May 2026, propelled by robust passenger demand, network restoration, and enhanced connectivity across domestic, regional, and international corridors. The market remained intensely competitive, with capacity expansion driven by a combination of established flag carriers, low-cost operators, and international airlines serving key African destinations.
This ranking identifies the top 10 airlines in Africa based on one-way departing seat capacity, a critical metric for assessing scheduled airline supply and operational scale. The data is derived from OAG’s African Aviation Market Data for May 2026, which monitors scheduled capacity across global airline markets. Notably, no Nigerian carrier appeared in the top 10 for May 2026. Nigeria’s largest airline, Air Peace, last featured in OAG’s top 10 in December 2025, when it ranked sixth and achieved the highest year-on-year seat capacity growth among African airlines, expanding its available seats by 53.4% from 285,470 in December 2024 to 437,974 in December 2025.
easyJet secured the tenth position in Africa by one-way departing seat capacity in May 2026, recording 344,293 seats—a 20.0% increase from 287,000 seats in May 2025. This represented the fastest growth rate among the top 10 airlines in the region. The British low-cost carrier operates a point-to-point model emphasizing cost efficiency and primary airport access, with a fleet of 355 aircraft serving over 1,200 routes across 38 countries and 164 airports.
In Africa, easyJet expanded its presence through Morocco, where it established a permanent base at Marrakech Menara Airport in April 2026, stationing three aircraft at the facility. This move followed two decades of operations in the country and the carriage of over 20 million passengers. The airline operates multiple routes across Morocco, including Marrakech, Agadir, Rabat, Essaouira, and Tangier, with additional seasonal services such as Hamburg–Marrakech transitioning to year-round operations. Its Moroccan network is poised for further expansion with new routes, reinforcing its role as a key European carrier in the North Africa travel market.
Caleb Obiowo, a graduate of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Uyo, covers transport and logistics in Nigeria, along with real estate, construction, and aviation at Nairametrics. He focuses on delivering clear, accessible stories and often delves deeper into industry trends. In related developments, Livingtrust Mortgage Posts N1.01 Billion Profit, while the Efcc Probes Suspected financial irregularities. Meanwhile, Vfd Group Refund processes have drawn attention, and Tinubu Urges Nigerians to support economic reforms. Additional coverage includes Photos: Ministers, Senators at key policy sessions.
