Infrastructure Gaps Constrain Africa’s Potential

While African air traffic is rising, opportunities for growth continue to be constrained by infrastructure challenges, according to Ali Tounsi, secretary general of ACI Africa.

Speaking on an African Airlines Association webinar, Tounsi emphasized that the sector’s success depends on stronger government engagement, regional cooperation and strategic investments in airport infrastructure.

Tounsi noted that African air traffic is steadily recovering from the pandemic, with passenger numbers reaching 240 million in 2024, an 11% year-on-year growth. This has been driven by tourism rebounds in key markets like Egypt, Morocco, Kenya and South Africa, the expansion of carriers such as FlySafair and Airlink, and increased trade facilitated by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

However, he said that recovery is uneven across regions. “Central Africa, for example, is lagging behind due to limited infrastructure and high operating costs, while political instability continues to affect parts of Northern Africa,” Tounsi added.

He explained that many African airports are not financially viable due to low traffic volumes, saying that governments need to create opportunities by facilitating investment. “It is up to the government to create attraction to the destination, to build tourism infrastructure and to encourage investment. And with that you can create traffic,” Tounsi said.

He highlighted the potential for public-private partnerships to bring not only funding but also expertise and operational efficiencies to the airport sector. These partnerships are particularly critical for smaller airports, which often struggle to attract private investment due to their limited traffic and financial inefficiency.

Despite these challenges, Africa’s aviation industry has significant opportunities for growth, Tounsi said. Hubs in Ethiopia, Kenya and Morocco are driving regional and international connectivity, while LCCs, which are still underdeveloped in the region, have the potential to significantly boost domestic and regional traffic.