Demand Strongest In 8 Years For Airline Passenger Connectivity
African airlines posted the strongest demand growth among global regions with February traffic up 12.7 percent compared to a year ago — a sign that African carriers are regaining market share after several difficult years, according to the International Air Transport Association.
Africa is set for strong expansion in air connectivity, the IATA reported. Efforts to enhance revenue management systems are paying off, along with increased exports from Africa.
Africa aviation accounts for more than 70 million passengers a year, generates over $80 billion in gross domestic product and supports more than 6.9 million jobs on the continent. Over the next five years the African economy is forecast to grow at a 4.7 percent per year — well above the global average.
“In the first two months of 2016, demand for passenger connectivity is off to its strongest start in eight years,” said IATA Director General Tony Tyler, AfricanCargoNews reported.
The industry body predicts that seven of the 10 fastest growing air passenger markets over the next 20 years will be in Africa, RoutesOnline reported. These include Malawi, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Central African Republic, Tanzania, Uganda and Ethiopia.
