Grounded ambitions: Africa’s aviation dreams detour through Europe

Despite growing calls for regional integration,most African air traffic continues to detour through Europe and the Middle East,exposing the continent’s stalled aviation reforms.

A glaring example came during the 2025 Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) in Algiers,where Kenyan and other countries’ delegates flew via Paris,turning a six-hour journey into a 15-hour ordeal due to a lack of direct flights. European hubs like Paris,London,and Frankfurt continue to dominate African skies thanks to superior infrastructure,route frequency,and regulatory stability. Air France,for instance,remains the main connector between Nairobi and Algiers — a route deemed commercially unviable for African carriers. Europe remains a major destination and transit point due to historic ties,tourism,business,migration or diaspora traffic,which ensures strong demand for routes via European hubs.

The underlying issues are complex: restrictive bilateral agreements,high operating costs,aging fleets,and poor infrastructure plague many African airlines. Initiatives like the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) and the Yamoussoukro Decision aim to open skies across the continent,but progress remains uneven. According to Airbus’s report on commercial aviation in Africa published last year,15 major direct routes to and from,or within the continent remain unserved,including Johannesburg–Mumbai,Cape Town–Brussels,and Durban–London. These gaps persist despite clear passenger demand,often due to policy inertia and financial constraints — like $1 billion in blocked airline revenues across African markets.

While traffic is growing — up 9% in early 2025 — connectivity lags. Industry leaders argue that only full SAATM implementation,infrastructure investment,and liberalized skies will allow African hubs to compete. Until then,Africa’s passengers will keep looking north — even for flights across their own continent.