Sub-Saharan Africa leads global air travel demand with increasing arrivals
Global air travel demand has shown remarkable resilience in 2024, with passenger volumes continuing to grow compared to the previous year. This growth is largely driven by the stabilisation of the global economy post-pandemic and the return of outbound travel from China and other key Asia-Pacific markets. According to the latest Air Ticket Data from ForwardKeys, international arrivals worldwide have surged by an impressive 18% year-to-date (YTD) as of mid-July compared to the same period in 2023.
Sub-Saharan Africa has emerged as a standout performer, driving much of the regional growth in air travel. International arrivals in this sub-region are set to increase by 5% in July and August compared to the same period in 2023, outpacing the overall 3% growth projected for the broader Africa and Middle East region.
Recognising the demand for travel to Sub-Saharan Africa, airlines have significantly boosted seat capacity. In the first half of 2024, the number of seats on flights arriving in the sub-region increased by 10% compared to the same period in 2023. This growth is set to continue, with a further 7% increase in capacity planned for the peak months of July and August.
Source: Travel and Tour World
