Ethiopian Airlines aircraft soaring through the sky during sunset, symbolizing growth and connectivity in Africa.
New data from the African Airlines Association shows domestic flights remain the backbone of African aviation, carrying 13.4 million passengers on the continent’s top 100 routes between July and December 2025. In contrast, only 9.3 million passengers traveled on intra-African routes and 4.1 million on international flights. South Africa and Nigeria had the largest domestic traffic, reflecting their population sizes, geographic scale, and concentration of economic centers. The Cape Town–Johannesburg route was Africa’s busiest, carrying 1.99 million passengers, followed by Durban–Johannesburg with 1.39 million. However, connectivity between African regions remains weak. While Northern and Western Africa recorded a connectivity rate of 34%, Eastern and Western Africa, Northern and Southern Africa, and Southern and Western Africa recorded connectivity rates of just 7%, 5%, and 3%, respectively. Analysts say closing this gap could unlock significant trade, tourism, and economic gains across the continent.