Nigeria has emerged as Africa’s fifth-largest airline market by passenger seat capacity, even as the country recorded a decline in available seats toward the end of 2025.

Data from industry aviation trackers show that airlines operating in and out of Nigeria offered approximately 1.16 million scheduled passenger seats in December 2025, covering both domestic and international routes. This figure places Nigeria behind Egypt, South Africa, Morocco, and Ethiopia, maintaining its long-held fifth position on the continent.

However, the data also reveals a 3.7 percent year-on-year reduction in Nigeria’s total seat capacity. In comparison, airlines provided about 1.20 million seats in December 2024, indicating a contraction in capacity over the 12-month period.

Notably, Nigeria stood out as the only country among Africa’s ten largest aviation markets to record a decline during this timeframe. While the drop signals pressure within the local aviation ecosystem, the country’s ability to retain its ranking shows the scale and resilience of its air travel market.

Across the continent, aviation activity showed strong recovery and expansion in several major markets. Egypt, Africa’s largest airline market, recorded nearly 3 million passenger seats, reinforcing its dominance. South Africa followed closely with about 2.6 million seats, while Morocco posted one of the strongest performances, expanding capacity by over 13 percent to exceed 2 million seats.

Ethiopia, another key aviation hub, continued its steady growth trajectory, offering roughly 1.38 million seats during the same period.

Other African countries also experienced notable increases in airline capacity. Algeria, Kenya, Tunisia, and Mauritius all reported year-on-year growth, reflecting broader momentum across the continent’s aviation sector. Tanzania emerged as the fastest-growing market, recording an expansion of more than 20 percent, highlighting rising demand and improved connectivity.

While Nigeria’s short-term decline contrasts with the growth seen elsewhere, analysts note that factors such as operational costs, aircraft availability, and macroeconomic pressures may have influenced airline scheduling decisions.

Still, Nigeria’s position among Africa’s leading aviation markets points to significant long-term potential as air travel demand continues to evolve.

Source: Naira Metrics