Nigeria’s domestic airline seat capacity rose by 6% year-on-year, climbing from 642,717 seats in October 2024 to 681,204 seats in October 2025, according to data from OAG’s Africa Aviation Market – Monthly Airline Data Updates.
The latest figures reaffirm Nigeria’s position as Africa’s second-largest domestic aviation market, behind South Africa, highlighting a steady recovery in local air travel demand despite economic headwinds and rising operational costs faced by airlines.
South Africa maintained its lead on the continent with 1.67 million domestic seats, a robust 16.6% growth from last year, supported by increased frequency on major routes such as Johannesburg–Cape Town and Durban–Johannesburg. Kenya followed in third place with 412,286 seats, marking a 4.9% rise, driven by strong activity on routes linking Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu.