Nomad Africa - April 2018

Issue 11 | ...Celebrating the world’s richest continent | http://www.nomadafricamag.com | 61

tourism. “The performance of the airline
industry, particularly from an interna-
tional perspective, reflects the perform-
ance of the tourism industry, one of the
South African Government’s six impera-
tives for growth,” Zweigenthal explained.
“It’s unfortunate that the development
and growth of African aviation has been
held hostage by the inability of African
states to work together to ensure the de-
velopment of an effective network.”
“Competition in the airline industry in
Africa is intense and a number of players
are increasing their footprint on the con-
tinent. Without a talent pipeline, airlines
and other aviation businesses face a
calamitous future,” he said. The Interna-
tional Air Transport Association (IATA), a
global airline industry organisation, pre-
dicted that African airlines were posed to
make combined losses of $350 million
(R4.6 billion) in 2017 – $100 million (R1.3
billion) of it from South Africa’s airlines.
The global aviation industry, in compari-
son, was forecasting a $31 billion net
profit. South African Airline SAA currently
own approximately 50 aircraft, Egypt Air
own 54, Royal Air Maroc own 57 and
Ethiopian Airlines operate a fleet of 94 air-

craft. Ethiopian is also one of only four air-

lines in Africa with over 5 million annual

passengers. To cope with the increasing

demand, some 20 000 new pilots, engi-

neers and technicians will be needed and

more than 1 000 new aircraft will be re-

quired across the African fleet.

South Africa holds the largest aviation

market on the continent, yet the South

African airline industry is facing significant

challenges. Airlines in the region have a

long history of losses, irregular and

wasteful expenditure and delays of finan-

cial reports. Maintenance of records,

property, aircraft equipment and inven-

tory – along with ageing fleets – add to a

lack of capital and for many, closure. In

South Africa alone, airlines including

Since 2005, aviation in Africa was dominated

by ten countries: South Africa (17.2 million

passengers in 2015), Egypt (10.2 million),

Ethiopia (7.1 million), Morocco (6.8 million),

Algeria (5.9 million), Kenya (4.9 million),

Tunisia (3.5 million), Nigeria (3.2 million),

Libya (2.6 million) and Mauritius (1.5 million).

Passenger growth in that period was highest in

Nigeria, with a 331% increase and although

Ethiopia is the third biggest market, it enjoys

the second highest growth at 324%.