The African aviation market continued its steady expansion in May 2026, supported by rising passenger demand, network recovery, and improving connectivity across domestic, regional, and international routes.
The sector remained highly competitive, with capacity growth driven by a mix of long-established flag carriers, low-cost operators, and international airlines serving key African markets.
This ranking highlights the top 10 airlines in Africa by one-way departing seat capacity, a key measure of scheduled airline supply and operational scale.
It is based on OAG’s African Aviation Market Data for May 2026, which tracks scheduled capacity across global airline markets.
While the ranking reflects a blend of African and international carriers, no Nigerian airline featured in the May 2026 top 10.
Nigeria’s largest carrier, Air Peace, last appeared in OAG’s top 10 in Africa in December 2025, when it ranked sixth and recorded the highest year-on-year seat capacity growth among African airlines, expanding its available seats by 53.4% from 285,470 in December 2024 to 437,974 in December 2025.
Here are the top 10 airlines in Africa by seat capacity in May 2026.
Emirates ranked eighth in Africa by one-way departing seat capacity in May 2026, offering 380,783 seats, down from 390,563 in May 2025, representing a 2.5% year-on-year decline.
The Dubai-based carrier continues to adjust and expand its African network as part of a broader strategy linking Africa to the Middle East and global trade routes.
A key development in 2026 was the expansion of services to Cairo, where Emirates introduced a fifth daily flight from February, making the Egyptian capital its most-served destination in Africa. The additional frequency also increased belly-hold cargo capacity by about 300 tonnes per week, supporting exports such as fresh agricultural produce.
The airline also expanded its Southern Africa operations with a third daily service to Cape Town from July 2026 and the introduction of the Airbus A350 alongside Boeing 777-300ER and A380 aircraft on select routes.
Emirates operates from its Dubai hub and serves over 140 destinations globally, including 22 across Africa such as Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, and Morocco.
