Nigeria has been ranked as Africa’s fifth-largest airline market in December 2025, with approximately 1.16 million scheduled passenger seats across domestic and international flights, according to the latest data from OAG. The country trails Egypt, South Africa, Morocco, and Ethiopia in overall seat capacity for the month.
Despite maintaining its position among the continent’s top markets, Nigeria’s total airline seat capacity fell by 3.7% compared to December 2024, making it the only top-10 African market to record a contraction over the same period. On the domestic front, Nigeria remained the second-largest domestic market in Africa, although available seats dropped by around 7.5% year-on-year, reflecting operational challenges and limited aircraft availability.
Industry experts note that rising operational costs and fleet constraints have contributed to the decline, signaling the need for strategic investments in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
Across the continent, the festive season saw varied growth, with South Africa, Kenya, and Morocco leading in domestic airline capacity. Analysts highlight that Nigeria’s ranking underscores its continued significance in Africa’s aviation landscape, even amid operational pressures. Visit www.jocomms.com for more news.