CNN journalist Larry Madowo recently raised a compelling question: Why do flights within Africa cost more than international ones, even to far-off destinations like the US? He compared a business class ticket from Nairobi to Abidjan with one from Nairobi to Atlanta and found the intra-African option to be significantly pricier.
This isn’t an isolated case. Many travellers have experienced similar frustrations. But what exactly drives these seemingly sky-high fares for African routes? Several structural and policy factors help explain the disparity.
1. Smaller Airlines and Lack of Economies of Scale
Most African airlines operate with small fleets – typically fewer than 30 aircraft compared to their American, European or Asian counterparts. In aviation, size matters. Large airlines (those with 100+ planes) benefit from economies of scale, allowing them to spread costs like Maintenance Repairs and Overhauls (MRO), fuel and staffing, across more passengers. Smaller African carriers, on the other hand, face higher per-passenger costs which inevitably translate into more expensive tickets.
2. Limited Demand and Flight Frequencies
African routes tend to have lower passenger demand, which results in fewer scheduled flights. Operating costs like fuel, crew airport fees and MRO must be recouped from a smaller customer base, driving up fares. Limited connectivity also means fewer options and less competition further pushing the price upwards.
3. Restricted skies and border fees
Africa remains fragmented when it comes to aviation policy. The Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), a flagship African Union initiative to liberalize intra-African air travel, has yet to be fully implemented. As a result, airlines face a patchwork of regulations, high taxes and disparate airport charges across borders. On average, African airport passenger fees are around USD 100. These are ten times higher than the average USD 10 charged within the European Union.
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4. Underdeveloped Aviation Infrastructure
Many African countries lack adequate airport and aviation infrastructure. When flying into these destinations, airlines often bear the costs of essential services which may include security checks, ground handling equipment and even basic utilities. These additional expenses contribute directly to the higher ticket prices.
5. Too Many Airlines Chasing Too Few Passengers
Africa accounts for just under 3 per cent of global air traffic but is home to 17 per cent of the world’s commercial airlines. With 196 carriers operating across the continent, competition is intense and many airlines are financially fragile. These airlines often set higher prices to cover operational costs to stay afloat. This may lead to the counterintuitive result of high fares despite increased competition.
A path forward: consolidation and cooperation
The solution lies in consolidation. If African airlines were reorganized into three or four large pan-African airline groups, they would unlock substantial benefits. Such benefits would include shared training programmes for pilots and crew, joint investment in MRO facilities, pooled procurement of aircraft and ground handling equipment and development of new and previously underserved routes
Equally important, countries involved in such airline groups would have strong incentives to harmonise legislation and fully implement SAATM, removing bureaucratic and financial barriers to intra-Africa travel. With coordinated action, the continent can reduce operational costs and pass those savings on to travellers, making air travel across Africa more accessible, affordable and efficient.
By addressing the structural inefficiencies and policy roadblocks that have hindered intra-Africa travel, Africa has the opportunity to revolutionise its aviation sector. For a continent with vast distances and growing economic potential, affordable and efficient air connectivity isn’t just a luxury-it is a necessity.
