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.
Air Algérie ranked fifth in Africa by one-way departing seat capacity in May 2026, offering 708,300 seats, up from 631,321 in May 2025, representing a 12.2% year-on-year increase.
The flag carrier of Algeria operates a network spanning four continents, with 44 international and 33 domestic destinations, according to the airline’s website. Headquartered in Algiers, it connects key markets across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and North America.
Its main hub is Houari Boumediene Airport, which serves as its primary operational base and handles the bulk of its domestic and international traffic.
Air Algérie operates a fleet of over 50 aircraft and continues to expand its regional and international footprint. In 2019, before the pandemic, it carried over 5 million passengers, reinforcing its position as one of North Africa’s leading carriers.
