IATA has said African airlines are expected to post a $0.1 billion loss (in line with the $0.1 billion loss in 2016) which is equal to a loss of $1.50/passenger.
Passenger demand is expected to grow by 7.5%, slightly behind expected capacity growth of 7.9%.
African carriers remain in the red; but without a deterioration on 2016 performance. On safety, the region’s carriers achieved a major milestone with zero jet hull-losses in 2016. And a general improvement in commodity prices is helping invigorate the continent’s economies (and offset fuel price increases).
This trend, however, is unlikely to accelerate substantially. The burdens of high taxes, higher-than-global-average fuel prices, competition from the Gulf and limited intra-continental liberalisation remain. The balance of these factors is expected to result in continued small losses. (africanaerospace)
