Africa’s aviation sector continues its strong post-pandemic recovery, with passenger volumes and airline capacity rebounding across the continent. According to data from the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) and aviation analytics partners, North and East Africa remain the region’s busiest air travel hubs by seat capacity for October 2025.
Cairo International Airport once again leads the continent as Africa’s busiest gateway, bolstered by EgyptAir’s extensive international network and robust tourist traffic into the Middle East and Europe. Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport holds a strong second place, remaining southern Africa’s premier aviation hub. Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, home to Ethiopian Airlines, maintains its reputation as a key connector between Africa, Asia, and Europe.
Here’s how the top 10 busiest African airports rank by total scheduled seat capacity (a strong proxy for outbound traffic) for October 2025:
- Cairo International Airport – Egypt
- OR Tambo International Airport – South Africa
- Bole International Airport – Ethiopia
- Mohammed V International Airport – Morocco
- Houari Boumediene Airport – Algeria
- Cape Town International Airport – South Africa
- Jomo Kenyatta International Airport – Kenya
- Marrakesh Menara Airport – Morocco
- Tunis–Carthage International Airport – Tunisia
- Hurghada International Airport – Egypt
Regional trends show that North Africa continues to dominate the continent’s air traffic, accounting for more than half of total seat capacity in 2025. Tourism-driven routes in Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia have surged, while sub-Saharan hubs in Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Africa retain their positions as critical intercontinental gateways.
Industry analysts note that outbound seat capacity growth in October 2025 reflects increased leisure and business travel ahead of the Northern Hemisphere winter season, particularly from European markets. Continued fleet expansions by Ethiopian Airlines, EgyptAir, and Royal Air Maroc are also driving higher connectivity across the continent.
While official outbound-seat rankings for October 2025 have yet to be released, AFRAA data suggests that these ten airports collectively handled more than 70 percent of Africa’s total scheduled capacity, underlining their central role in the continent’s aviation recovery story. Visit www.jocomms.com for more news.
