Ageing Aircraft Plague African Aviation, AASA Chief Warns

Fresh concerns have emerged over the state of Africa’s aviation industry, with the Chief Executive Officer of the Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA), Aaron Munetsi, warning that airlines across the continent are grappling with ageing aircraft, weak revenues, and deep structural challenges that continue to limit growth.

Munetsi made the observation on the second day of the Nigeria Aircraft Acquisition and Investment Summit in Lagos, painting a picture of an industry struggling to match other continents.

Lamenting the disparity between Africa’s population and its aviation capacity, Munetsi noted that the continent’s fleet size remains alarmingly low.

“The whole continent has less than 1,000 aircraft. Compare that to Delta Air Lines, which alone operates about 1,500 aircraft. That tells you the size of the gap we are dealing with,” he said.

Munetsi stated that Africa’s aviation output is severely inadequate relative to its roughly 1.4 billion population, attributing the situation to deep-rooted systemic challenges.

He further revealed that out of 52 airlines and flag carriers across the continent, only a few are functioning optimally. “With 52 airlines, flag carriers across the continent, only seven are fully operational, and of those seven, only one is profitable,” he said.

Munetsi noted that Africa contributes just about two per cent to global aviation, a figure he described as disproportionately low given the continent’s landmass and growing demand for connectivity. According to him, the sector’s struggles are tied to economic and regulatory constraints that make expansion and sustainability difficult.

“The crisis is rooted in a combination of economic limitations and regulatory inefficiencies. Many of our economies are not structured to support the financial demands of running airlines, which require heavy capital investment and long-term planning,” he explained.

He also disclosed that some African airlines generate extremely low revenues. “We are getting less than one million dollars in some cases. How do you build capacity, acquire aircraft, or compete globally under such conditions?” he queried.

Munetsi further warned that Africa operates some of the oldest aircraft globally, a development that continues to erode efficiency and competitiveness. “According to industry statistics, we have the oldest fleets globally and the smallest fleets globally,” he said.

Despite the grim assessment, Munetsi maintained that Africa’s aviation industry still holds immense promise if the right policies and investments are put in place. “Yet, we are sitting on enormous potential, a vast landmass, a growing population, and increasing demand for connectivity,” he added.

In contrast, the Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Chris Najomo, had stated at an earlier forum that the age of an aircraft should be of no concern if it is well maintained, emphasising that adequate maintenance renders an aircraft’s age irrelevant.