Boeing Briefing : Africa’s commercial airplane fleet is set to more than double by 2043, largely driven by the demand for single-aisle jets, according to Boeing’s latest 2024 Commercial Market Outlook (CMO). The report predicts the delivery of over 1,170 new airplanes, with more than 800 being single-aisle jets, underscoring the region’s growing potential in aviation.

The CMO highlights that Africa’s passenger air traffic is expected to rise by 6.4% annually, more than tripling by 2043. This makes Africa the third fastest-growing region among the ten regions tracked by Boeing.

“As demand for air travel increases, African airlines will require more single-aisle airplanes to service routes efficiently in the region’s largest markets, including Europe, the Middle East, and within Africa,” said Shahab Matin, Boeing’s Managing Director of Commercial Marketing for the Middle East and Africa, during a press briefing at the Aviation Africa event. He added that Boeing’s strong eight-decade-long partnership with African airlines will play a crucial role in meeting this demand. Currently, over 60 African airlines operate approximately 500 Boeing airplanes.

Key Forecasts for 2043 from Boeing’s Africa CMO:

• 82% of aircraft deliveries will be for growth, the highest proportion of any region globally.
• Africa’s freighter fleet is expected to triple to support the continent’s expanding export markets and booming e-commerce.
• Aviation services, including maintenance and support, will grow at an annual rate of 5.7% as the fleet expands.
• The industry will require an additional 76,000 pilots, technicians, and cabin crew, tripling Africa’s active aviation workforce.

In terms of fleet composition, the outlook projects 830 single-aisle jets, 260 widebody airplanes, and 15 freighters to be delivered across Africa over the next two decades.

Boeing’s CMO has been published annually since 1961, providing one of the most comprehensive analyses of the commercial aviation industry. For more details, the complete 2024 CMO report is available at Boeing’s official website.