AIRLINES WILL NEED TO RECRUIT AIRLINES WILL NEED TO RECRUIT ABOUT 63,000 NEW PROFESSIONALS, AS AFRICA’S AVIATION INDUSTRY IS PROJECTED TO HIT $400 BILLION VALUATION BY 2040
A
frica’s commercial aviation market is projected to be valued at $400 billion by 2040.
Growth will be driven by factors such as increased trade, more travel agreements and an increase in the region’s middle class. To meet an expected increase in air travel demand, African airlines will have to significantly increase their fleet size and workforce. African airlines will need to recruit some 63,000 new professionals (including pilots, technicians and cabin crew members) over the next twenty years in order to ensure optimal service delivery.
EMMANUEL ABARA BENSON 34
VOL 22
ISSUE 3
This is part of the key growth projections
Some of other factors that are expected
that were made about the African com-
to help drive Africa’s commercial avia-
mercial aviation industry by American
tion growth are the continent’s projected
aircraft manufacturer, Boeing, as contained
3% economic growth over the next two
in its recently released 2021 Commercial
decades, the African Continental Free
Market Outlook.
Trade Area (AcfTA) and Single African Air
According to the forecast which was
Transport Market which are all expected to
obtained by Business Insider Africa, Africa’s
encourage cross-border trade and travels.
commercial aviation market will be valued at a whopping $400 billion by 2040. And in line with this projected growth, airlines on the continent will acquire about 1, 030 new airplanes that will be valued at $160 billion.
Also note that Africa’s middle class is expected to increase significantly during the forecast period, thereby driving up the need for air travel. As a matter of fact, annual passenger traffic is projected to grow
“Africa has healthy opportunities to expand
by 5.4%, the third highest growth rate in the
travel and tourism, coinciding with increas-
world according to Boeing.
ing urbanization and rising incomes. African carriers are well-positioned to support
In line with the foregoing therefore, African
inter-regional traffic growth and capture
airlines will need to recruit 19,000 new
market share by offering services that ef-
pilots, 20,000 technicians and 24,000 cabin
ficiently connect passengers and enable
crew members between now and 2040.
commerce within the continent,” said
In the same vein, they will systematically
Boeing’s Managing Director of Commer-
increase their fleet size by 3.6% in order to
cial Marketing for Middle East and Africa,
accommodate the expected increase in air
Randy Heisey.
travellers.
BY EMMANUEL ABARA BENSON
CEO GLOBAL MAGAZINE.COM
