African airfreight growth faces significant challenges due to high costs, outdated aircraft, and inadequate cargo infrastructure. Indirect routes and a slow implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) further limit intra-African connectivity, preventing the continent from realizing its full economic potential.
Despite these hurdles, competition among air cargo companies is intensifying. Aglow Air is focusing on short-haul routes in West Africa using ATR freighters, while Kenya Airways Cargo and TAAG are positioning Nairobi and Luanda as regional hubs to attract long-haul traffic. Ethiopian Airlines continues to dominate the market, holding a substantial share of airfreight operations across Africa.
Trade in Africa, particularly with China, is on the rise, alongside growing e-commerce and demand for perishables, pharmaceuticals, and industrial cargo. However, sustainable growth in the sector will depend on regulatory reforms, the establishment of direct flight routes, and the enhancement of cargo handling facilities and cold-chain logistics.
African air freight still struggles with long transit times; goods transported between countries typically take three to five days and often involve stopovers in Europe or the Middle East. Cathy Kayitesi, Sales Director at Africa Global Logistics, noted that high shipping rates often push many exporters toward sea freight, reserving air freight for perishables or high-value goods.
The continent’s aging aircraft fleet compounds the issues, with many planes being over thirty years old, leading to frequent breakdowns and delays. “Connections remain a major challenge,” Kayitesi added, emphasizing that the current lack of direct flights necessitates transit through external hubs, which increases shipping costs.
Strategies to overcome these challenges are developing. Aglow Air aims to serve short-haul markets, while Kenya Airways Cargo and TAAG are seeking to dominate long-haul traffic flows. Samba Thiam, an aviation expert, highlighted that underserved routes particularly exist between West and Southern/Central Africa, with TAAG effectively utilizing its North-South corridor to bridge these gaps.
However, regulatory issues remain a significant barrier. The current air transportation framework in Africa stems from colonial-era bilateral agreements, which prioritize connections between capital cities and European destinations over intra-African travel. Although SAATM has been signed by multiple states, its implementation has been slow, with governments often protecting their national airlines by restricting traffic rights.
As a result, inefficient logistics persist, hindering direct flight operations and raising costs. More than half of African airports lack essential cargo infrastructure, including proper warehouses and cold chains, which severely limits the transport of perishables.
Amid these challenges, emerging hubs show promise. Ethiopian Airlines holds a commanding 35 percent market share, outpacing competitors like Kenya Airways and Royal Air Maroc. The airline’s cargo capacity has increased from 266,000 tonnes in 2016 to 715,000 tonnes in 2023, with plans to expand its fleet further by 2035. Meanwhile, the Abidjan hub is gaining traction, potentially opening new routes and reducing fares through increased competition.
Demand for air freight is bolstered not only by rising trade volumes, particularly between Africa and China, which reached $348 billion in 2025, but also by significant growth in e-commerce. Companies such as Temu and SHEIN are driving a 20 percent annual increase in e-commerce demand, while agricultural exports and pharmaceuticals remain critical sectors for air transport.
