Nigeria's aviation market has experienced significant growth, with scheduled airline capacity rising by 37.4 percent year-on-year to 1.19 million seats in September 2026. This growth reflects increasing activity in the country's aviation market, according to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). Olubunmi Kuku, managing director of FAAN, disclosed this information at the opening of the Airport Council International (ACI) Africa Conference and Exhibition 2026 in Abuja.
Nigeria's aviation market has become the fourth-largest in Africa, with over 18.8 million domestic and international passengers recorded in 2025. This represents an 11.9 percent year-on-year increase. According to data from OAG, Nigeria's 1.19 million scheduled seats in September represented the fastest growth among Africa's 10 largest aviation markets. The growth is driven by currency reforms, new aircraft leasing agreements, and increased confidence among international airlines seeking to expand their operations in Nigeria.
The Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos recorded the fastest growth in scheduled seat capacity among Africa's 10 largest airports in September, with a 24.1 percent increase. Kuku highlighted the performance of the airport, whose oldest terminal is being rehabilitated and upgraded. The growth in Nigeria's aviation market is taking place against a broader expansion in African air travel demand, with African airlines recording a 6.4 percent year-on-year increase in international passenger demand in July 2026.
According to International Air Transport Association (IATA) data, African airlines' growth in international passenger demand outpaced the global average. While global international demand declined by 0.1 percent during the same period, Africa was expanding. Africa's overall passenger demand grew by 5.2 percent, second only to Latin America and the Caribbean and above the global average of 0.2 percent. This growth represents millions of Africans connecting with family, doing business, accessing healthcare, and exploring opportunities.
Despite the growth in passenger traffic and airline capacity, structural challenges facing the continent's aviation industry remain. Africa accounts for only about one percent of global air traffic despite having approximately 18 percent of the world's population. Airline load factors remain below global averages, and the financial viability of many African carriers remains fragile. In Nigeria alone, with a population exceeding 220 million, approximately 19.5 million passengers are recorded annually across 28 airports.
Kuku identified funding constraints, infrastructure deficits, high operating costs, fragmented connectivity, and pressure to keep airport charges low while providing world-class facilities as key challenges requiring collective action. These challenges are central to the conference, themed "Next-Gen Airports: Driving Performance and Resilience." The theme represents a strategic mandate for stakeholders to strengthen the performance, resilience, and competitiveness of Africa's aviation infrastructure.
The growth in Nigeria's aviation market and the broader African air travel demand underscore the need for deliberate, strategic action to address the industry's challenges. Kuku emphasized that these figures represent livelihoods, economic growth, and the future being built together. The conference aims to bring stakeholders together to drive performance and resilience in Africa's aviation industry, with a focus on strengthening infrastructure and addressing key challenges.
Key points
- Nigeria's airline capacity surged 37.4% year-on-year to 1.19 million seats in September 2026.
- Nigeria's aviation market has become the fourth-largest in Africa, with over 18.8 million domestic and international passengers recorded in 2025.
- The growth in Nigeria's aviation market is driven by currency reforms, new aircraft leasing agreements, and increased confidence among international airlines.
