Africa’s air cargo market continues to face significant trade barriers, geopolitical conflicts, and operational constraints. Industry leaders at the recently concluded Air Cargo Africa in Nairobi highlighted ongoing efforts to drive positive change.
Trade Barriers and Economic Fragmentation
Racheal Ndegwa, CEO of Swissport Kenya, emphasized that economic fragmentation hampers trade and airfreight growth across the continent. She urged for greater resource unification to maximize economic potential.
Meanwhile, Wilson Kwong, CEO of Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl), stressed the importance of increasing exports and fostering stronger regional collaboration.
Geopolitical Challenges and Airline Constraints
Geopolitical instability remains a major obstacle. Peter Musola, Head of Cargo Commercial at Kenya Airways, pointed out that conflicts in Sudan and West Africa have led to flight route diversions, increasing time and costs, particularly for perishables. Eric Wilson, Senior Vice President of Cargo Sales at Qatar Airways Cargo, echoed these concerns, stating that conflict and political instability hinder commercial expansion.
Mr. Musola also highlighted the importance of trade liberalization, advocating for the ratification of free trade area protocols to create new opportunities for airlines. However, he raised concerns over the ongoing issue of blocked airline funds, warning of serious financial risks if these funds remain inaccessible.
Infrastructure and Market Expansion
To support air cargo growth, Grant Kemp, Regional General Manager Central (Africa, UAE, GCC, CIS & Levant) at Etihad Cargo, emphasized the role of secondary airports in improving network strategy and capacity handling. He noted that to efficiently transport perishables and pharmaceuticals, Africa must develop its secondary airport infrastructure. Mr. Wilson added that production hubs often do not align with major air hubs, making partnerships essential for connecting secondary and tertiary markets.
From a ground-handling perspective, Ms. Ndegwa stressed the need for collaboration between airports, governments, and private stakeholders. She advocated for investments in “fit-for-purpose” infrastructure, such as warehouses and process enhancements, aligned with global standards.
Positive Growth Trends
Despite these challenges, Africa’s air cargo industry is showing signs of progress. Aaron Tayler, Boeing’s Regional Director of Market Analysis, highlighted that nine of the world’s fastest-growing economies, including Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Senegal, are in Africa. This economic expansion is expected to drive demand for trade and airfreight.
Boeing’s World Air Cargo Forecast predicts that African air cargo volumes will double over the next 20 years. Key growth drivers include economic development, policy reform, trade liberalization, and expanded air traffic rights. Tayler noted that the Africa-East Asia trade lane has been particularly strong, growing nearly 7% annually over the past decade and is expected to triple in volume over the next 20 years.
Fleet Expansion and Modernization
Boeing anticipates that Africa will require around 100 additional freighter aircraft in the next two decades, bringing the total fleet to over 150 aircraft by the early 2040s. Tayler pointed out that much of Africa’s existing fleet is aging, with many aircraft exceeding 30 years in service. This underscores the need for fleet renewal and expansion to meet growing air cargo demands.
Strengthening Connectivity
Although supply chain connectivity remains a challenge, there has been a revival of airlines that have increased capacity and enhanced regional connectivity. Qatar Airways Cargo, for instance, has seen balanced inbound and outbound market flows across its 28-city African network. Wilson noted that the airline’s operations in Africa continue to grow steadily.
Kenya Airways’ Mr. Musola acknowledged recent challenges in the Kenyan flower industry, particularly during the fourth quarter of 2024 when airfreight capacity was redirected to serve the Asian e-commerce market. However, he reported a strong recovery in the first quarter of 2025, thanks in part to a timely realignment of capacity following the Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day peak demand.