Ethiopian Airlines, Air Peace Make Africa’s Top Airlines – OAG Report

Nigerian carrier Air Peace has emerged as Africa’s fastest-growing airline by seat capacity in December 2025, according to new data from OAG’s Monthly Airline Data Updates.

The airline expanded its available seats by 53.4 percent year-on-year, rising from 285,470 seats in December 2024 to 437,974 seats in December 2025. While Air Peace led in growth rate, it still ranked behind larger carriers in absolute seat numbers.

Ryanair posted the second-highest growth among African operators, expanding capacity by 24.4 percent to 413,411 seats, while Ethiopian Airlines—Africa’s largest carrier—grew by 14.1 percent to 1.94 million seats, maintaining its top position.

Continental Trends and Market Outlook

North African airlines recorded steady gains: Royal Air Maroc rose 7.6 percent to 618,003 seats, Air Algérie grew 6.7 percent to 616,635 seats, and EgyptAir added 31,000 seats for a 4.0 percent increase to 823,910.

At the lower end, FlySafair edged up just 0.4 percent, while Kenya Airways contracted by 1.3 percent and Airlink cut capacity by 10 percent.

By total seat volume, Ethiopian Airlines led with 1.94 million seats, followed by FlySafair and EgyptAir.

Air Peace placed sixth, overtaking several competitors after its sharp expansion. Emirates, the only non-African airline in the top ten, grew its African capacity by 9.4 percent to 391,585 seats.

Despite Air Peace’s strong performance, Nigeria’s overall airline market shrank by 3.7 percent to 1.16 million seats, making it the only top 10 African market to contract.

Egypt remained Africa’s largest aviation market with 2.98 million seats, followed by South Africa, Morocco, and Ethiopia. Tanzania posted the fastest growth among the top ten, expanding capacity by over 20 percent.

Domestically, Nigeria ranked second with 850,420 seats, down 7.5 percent year-on-year, behind South Africa.

Kenya and Tanzania followed, while North African markets such as Egypt, Algeria, and Morocco saw increases, with Cape Verde recording the fastest growth.

Key Details About the OAG Monthly Airline Data Updates

• Publisher: OAG (Official Airline Guide), a leading global provider of aviation data.
• Coverage: Monthly updates on airline seat capacity, busiest airports, top airlines, and market trends across Africa.
• December 2025 Highlights:
  • Ethiopian Airlines remained Africa’s largest carrier with 1.94 million seats.
  • Air Peace posted the fastest growth, expanding seat capacity by 53.4% year-on-year.
  • Egypt was the largest aviation market with 2.98 million seats.
• Data Source: OAG’s Schedules Analyser, a platform for airline schedule analysis.

OAG’s monthly updates are widely used by airlines, airports, and analysts to track performance and market share. It helps identify growth leaders (like Air Peace in December 2025) and lagging carriers (such as Airlink, which cut capacity by 10%).

Governments and investors rely on this data to assess aviation infrastructure needs and market opportunities.

Rate, Like 👍, Comment 💬, Share this article, Follow us on our social media handles, and Submit your own story to get featured and earn rewards!