In a collaborative effort with AviaDev, Airbus has unveiled a comprehensive report analyzing the top unserved air routes to, from and within Africa’s sub-Saharan region. The report, titled “Exploring the Horizons: A Study of Unserved Air Routes to, from and within Africa”, was launched during the AviaDev conference in Windhoek, Namibia.
The study, conducted using traffic and schedule data from December 2022 to November 2023, reveals that some of the most promising unserved routes are concentrated in a few key African cities, including Lagos, Cape Town, Nairobi, Dakar and Douala.
“Airline route and network planning is a cornerstone of an airline’s strategic planning and future development,” said Geert Lemaire, the report’s author. “Screening the market for new routes represents one of the most strategically important activities in the industry.”
The top-tier unserved routes identified in the report are primarily long-haul intercontinental flights to North America, Europe and the Indian Subcontinent. Unserved city pairs within Africa ranked lower on the list due to their currently lower traffic numbers, but the report still identified several promising prospects.
“Airports equally develop networks for strategic and operational reasons, with the objective of enhancing connectivity and reinforcing their business by attracting more passengers, more cargo and more airlines,” Lemaire added.
One notable finding is that West Africa, as a subregion, sees the highest number of unserved routes, with 9 out of the top 15 unserved routes starting or ending in West Africa. This is attributed to the region’s booming population, cultural and economic diversity, and its role in international trade, along with the projected growth forecast for the subregion.
“The potential to turn the unserved routes into actual ones is substantial, especially when considering the value of cargo traffic to and from the subregion,” Lemaire said.
The report also reveals that out of the 15 identified unserved routes, 11 previously had non-stop flights, some of which were discontinued years ago, while 4 were still in operation as recently as 2022.
“Enhanced aircraft capabilities and operating efficiency can facilitate network development and pave the way for the operational and economic feasibility of new routes, ultimately leading to improved connectivity, more choice and more convenience for travelers,” Lemaire concluded.
The full report is available on the Airbus and AviaDev websites, providing detailed insights and analysis on the most promising unserved air routes to, from and within Africa’s sub-Saharan region.
