In 2024, there was little domestic flight market in Africa, accounting for just 0.4% (38.2%) of the global domestic flight market and only 1.8% (61.8%) of the global international flight market.
This weak domestic market is the main reason African Airlines struggles financially. Ethiopian Airlines is quoted as profitable, but this is mainly due to favorable routes in Europe and Asia. On the continent, much of the flight operates in empty seats, packed with people heading to Europe.
Two situations need to be addressed.
1. Flight Cost – The average airfares within Africa are very expensive, often exceeding the per capita GDP of many of our country.
How do you expect Burundians to travel with $277 GDP? In other words, travel costs a person's living
2. Limited Visa Policy – Many African countries have strict restrictions on travel within Africa and impose expensive and troublesome visa requirements. Ugandan, for example, pays $36 (SH132,000) for a South African visa, but faces an additional $90 (SH330,000) in service charge.
Rwanda, which has waived visas for all African citizens, has proven the economic benefits of open borders with a 24% increase in tourist visits over two years. You need to choose the leaves.
Today, in 1987, the @Airbus A320 was first empty. Today, over 12,000 members of the A320 family (A318/9/A320/1 + NEO) are being built, with 3,000-5,000 families in the air at any time. pic.twitter.com/47wmuut2dp
-flightradar24 (@flightradar24) February 22, 2025
Enterbbe is a key milestone to attract investments with a forecast that will handle 2,243,104 passengers in 2024 and reach 3 million by the year or mid-Next. However, Uganda Airlines is heavily affected by the lack of domestic flight markets, and is forced to rely almost entirely on competitive regional and international routes.
To avoid long-term struggles, Ugandan Airlines must diversify its routes, build strategic partnerships and promote access to the visa-free African market. Affordable regional connectivity, particularly expanding to underserved but high demand routes, can help airlines establish a sustainable customer base beyond Entebbe.
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However, growth is limited when many Africans need a visa to enter Uganda. If Uganda eliminates visa restrictions, imagine a surge in Nigeria visitors alone.
In general, we are primarily responsible for its arid sky African airspace as a crowd of flights in the NA, LA, EU, Middle East and Asia
