African airlines see 11.7% jump in international travel demand
African airlines led global international air travel growth in January 2026, with revenue passenger kilometers (RPK) rising 11.7% year-on-year according to IATA's March 2, 2026 report. This marks the continent's strongest performance in cross-border travel demand, surpassing all other regions. Capacity increased 10.1% year-on-year while load factor reached 77.4%, up 1.1 percentage points from January 2025, indicating more efficiently filled flights. The growth reflects continued recovery from pandemic lows and robust demand for international travel. While other regions like Latin America (11.4% growth) and Asia-Pacific (4.4%) also showed gains, Africa's expansion was the most significant. This trend suggests improved connectivity options for Nigerians traveling internationally, though capacity constraints may persist.