Nigeria ranked as Africa’s fifth-largest airline market with a complete of 1.16 million scheduled passenger seats in December 2025, protecting each home and worldwide flights.
The capability positioned Nigeria behind Egypt, South Africa, Morocco, and Ethiopia in the course of the interval.
The information was drawn from the OAG Month-to-month Airline Knowledge Updates for the African Market.
What the report is saying
OAG knowledge indicated a 3.7% year-on-year decline in Nigeria’s whole airline seat capability, down from roughly 1.20 million seats in December 2024 to 1.16 million.
This made Nigeria the one nation amongst Africa’s high 10 aviation markets to document a contraction in the course of the interval. Regardless of the decline, Nigeria maintained its fifth-place rating, reflecting the relative measurement of its air journey market.
In contrast, a number of main African aviation markets expanded their capability in December 2025. Egypt, the continent’s largest market, elevated its seat capability to round 2.98 million, adopted by South Africa at 2.60 million.
Morocco recorded one of many strongest expansions, rising capability by over 13% to greater than 2.03 million seats, whereas Ethiopia maintained regular development at 1.38 million seats.
Different nations within the high 10, together with Algeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Tunisia, and Mauritius, additionally reported will increase, highlighting broader development in African aviation. Tanzania stood out, posting the quickest enlargement at over 20% year-on-year.
Insights into the home market
The OAG Month-to-month Airline Knowledge Updates for December 2025 supplied insights into home airline capability throughout Africa’s main aviation markets.
Nigeria ranked second, with whole seats falling to 850,420, down 7.5% year-on-year from 919,400 in December 2024. This was one of many steepest declines amongst main African home markets.
South Africa remained the biggest home market, rising from 1,686,956 seats to 1,803,097 seats. Kenya grew from 420,534 seats to 456,500 seats. Tanzania expanded from 326,990 seats to 415,130 seats.
In North Africa, Egypt rose from 382,157 seats to 391,736 seats, whereas Algeria jumped from 308,039 seats to 388,731 seats. Morocco elevated from 215,149 seats to 240,499 seats. Cape Verde recorded the quickest development, surging from 69,493 seats to 92,924 seats.
Some markets contracted. Ethiopia fell barely from 401,972 seats to 389,562 seats, and the Democratic Republic of Congo dropped sharply from 142,201 seats to 101,598 seats.
What you need to know
Nigeria’s decline in home seat capability displays a number of operational and market challenges. Upkeep points and restricted MRO amenities power airways to ship planes overseas for servicing, leaving plane out of service for months. Whereas MRO tasks by Air Peace, Ibom Air, and others are underway, they aren’t but operational, so downtime continues to have an effect on capability.
Different components, similar to hen strikes, excessive rates of interest, and restricted financing, additionally prohibit plane availability and fleet enlargement, making it more durable for airways to keep up constant home operations.
Entry to dry-lease plane stays restricted. Just one airline had certified by December 2025. Different carriers proceed to depend on moist leases or pricey purchases. Dry leases are important as a result of they offer airways full management over operations, scheduling, and prices. Nigeria’s removing from the AWG watchlist in October 2024 has began to enhance entry to world leasing markets.
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