Boeing Forecasts Africa's Aircraft Fleet Will Double by 2045

Boeing has released its 2026 Commercial Market Outlook (CMO) for Africa, predicting that the continent's commercial aircraft fleet will more than double from 755 to 1,625 by 2045. According to the report, Africa is expected to receive a total of 1,165 new aircraft by 2045 as passenger traffic on the continent grows by almost 6% annually.

The Boeing report attributes this growth to Africa's young and increasingly urban population, growing middle class, and improving infrastructure. As a result, intra-African passenger traffic is expected to grow faster than the regional average, supported by improved flight connections.

Demand for widebody airplanes is also expected to more than double, supporting fleet modernization and long-haul network growth. Additionally, Africa's cargo fleet will grow from 60 to 150 freighters as logistics, e-commerce, and high-value export markets develop.