Domestic air transport continues to drive the bulk of African aviation journeys, according to data from the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), which reveals that major gaps still persist in air connectivity between African regions.
In its half year report covering domestic, intra-African, and international routes from July to December 2025, domestic routes recorded the highest passenger volumes, carrying a combined 13.4 million passengers across the top 100 routes compared to 9.3 million passengers on intra-African routes and 4.1 million passengers on international flights.
The domestic route network was concentrated within a small number of African countries, with South Africa and Nigeria accounting for the largest domestic networks due "to their large geographic size, multiple commercial centres, and strong demand for domestic air travel," the report states.
"South Africa maintains a mature domestic aviation market supported by several major airports and frequent services between key economic centres. Similarly, Nigeria's extensive domestic network reflects the country's population size and the need for air transport to connect major cities across its regions.
Originally published by African Business.