Africa’s commercial aircraft fleet will more than double by 2045, U.S. planemaker Boeing (BA.N), opens new tab forecast on Thursday, as a young and increasingly urban population drives demand for travel within the continent and to the Middle East.
The following are further points from its annual Commercial Market Outlook.
- Africa’s fleet will grow to 1,625 aircraft in 2045 from 755 in 2025, requiring 1,165 airplane deliveries over the next two decades.
- Single-aisle aircraft, used mainly on domestic and regional routes, will account for 870 of the forecast deliveries, or about three-quarters of the total.
- Boeing expects deliveries of 240 wide-body jets, which are typically used on longer international routes, and 15 cargo planes.
- Passenger traffic within Africa is expected to grow 6.5% annually through 2045.
- Africa-Middle East traffic would expand 7.1% a year, the fastest rate among the region’s major travel markets.
- Traffic between Africa and Europe is projected to grow 3.4% annually.
- The region’s cargo fleet is expected to rise to 150 freighters from 60, supported by growth in logistics, e-commerce and exports.
- Carriers including Ethiopian Airlines, EgyptAir and Kenya Airways (KQNA.NR), opens new tab, whose fleets mainly consist of Boeing and Airbus (AIR.PA), opens new tab jets for long-haul routes, dominate the African market.
- Boeing’s Managing Director Commercial Marketing Africa and Middle East Shahab Matin said Africa’s market was “entering a period of sustained growth driven by improving connectivity, expanding intraregional travel and deeper economic ties”.
- Africa’s dominant carriers typically use Embraer (EMBJ3.SA), opens new tab, ATR and De Havilland planes on regional routes.
- But Matin said Boeing could also provide appropriate carriers.
- Boeing also estimated that Africa’s aviation services market, including maintenance, repair, overhaul, modifications and digital services, would be worth $140 billion over the 2026-2045 period.
- Meeting the expansion will require 75,000 additional aviation workers, including 22,000 pilots, 25,000 technicians and 28,000 cabin crew, Boeing said.
- The forecast is a long-term market outlook rather than an order projection.
Reuters