7 Most Profitable African Airlines | See Africa Today

The Covid-19 pandemic struck the global aviation industry so hard but it did stop the most profitable African airlines from excelling. This pandemic struck in early 2020 and crippled the entire aviation industry. Flights became a luxury for business and leisure travellers. It was one eye-opener that everything in life matters so much. Amid all this, airlines incurred heavy losses but turned their fortunes around in 2022. Above this success, you can feel the weight of their profits whenever you travel on these flights.

Most Profitable African Airlines?

Isn’t it mindboggling that there are airlines in Africa raking in profits yet we have heard countless times of some begging for a bailout by respective governments? Below are the most profitable African airlines in 2024.

1. Ethiopian Airlines

The Ethiopian carrier has a rich history of providing top-notch airline services. Thus, it is not surprising that it ranks among the most successful airline in Africa. Its sole ownership belongs to the Ethiopian government. Additionally, this airline holds many equity shares in other African carriers, one of them being Nigerian Air. Several factors fuel its success. They include the following:

A strong flight network: The Airline flies to approximately 150 cities in the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and Africa. This provides a broad scope of operations and draws a bigger traveller base.

Exceptional customer service: Ethiopian Airlines is renowned for providing exceptional customer service. This includes welcoming and accommodating personnel, pristine and cosy aircraft, and a variety of amenities.

Safety:  It has a long history of adhering to the highest standards of aviation safety which enchants passengers from all walks of life.

Strategic alliances: The Ethiopian national carrier has established alliances with reputable international carriers such as Lufthansa and Air France. They enable it to serve customers better and more efficiently.

2. Fastjet

Fastjet Plc is the holding company for a collection of low-cost airlines that fly in Africa, with offices in Britain and South Africa.  This British-inspired airline domiciled in South Africa lives up to its dream of becoming the continent’s first low-cost, pan-African airline. It features in Kenya and Tanzania as Fly540, Fastjet Zimbabwe and Fastjet Mozambique. This publicly listed airline has served more than three million passengers.

3. EgyptAir

Surprisingly, Egyptian national carrier EgyptAir is also among the most profitable African airlines. Founded in 1932; the Egyptians give it their all to safeguard its reputation more than 70 years later. Its broad route network connects Egypt to many international locations thereby making it a significant global transit hub. Secondly, EgyptAir prioritises safety and has a solid track record in this area. The airline also places a high priority on providing excellent customer service while providing a relaxing travel environment with contemporary conveniences.

Lastly, it remains dedicated to innovation, investing in cutting-edge technologies and modern aircraft to ensure efficiency and dependability. These factors are the hallmarks of its success.

4. Royal Air Maroc

Morocco is a leading African tourist destination, a feat it shares with her neighbour Egypt. Therefore; much of its national carrier, Royal Air Maroc’s success is pegged on this. Ranking among the most profitable African airlines, it boasts of a strong global linkage flying to over 90 destinations across Europe, Africa, North and South America and the Middle East.

Moreover, Royal Air Maroc has a stellar reputation for its customer service, safety and international partnerships with KLM and Air France.

5. RwandAir

Beyond its crown as the safest airline in Africa, RwandAir is one of the most profitable African airlines. It flies to 26 global destinations across Europe, Asia and the Middle East. It also flies to another dozen countries in Africa.

Being one of the newest and fastest-growing airlines, it has state-of-the-art fleets with cutting-edge technology that combines safety, comfort, and customer experience.

6. Arik Air

Arik Air is a low-cost Nigerian airline connecting West Africa to Central Africa and it was established in 2006. Arik has a partnership with British Airways which is one of the factors placing it among the most profitable African airlines. Under this cooperation, this Naija airline has access to both the frequent flyer programme and British Airways’ extensive global network. This enables Arik Air to draw more customers thereby earning more revenue and fully capitalizing on its domestic market which is a goldmine.

7. FlySafair

FlySafair is another illustrious low-cost, domestic airline in South Africa headquartered in Johannesburg. Its scope of operations cuts across five major South African cities with three airports. They are King Shaka International Airport in Durban, OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg and Cape Town International Airport in Cape Town serving as FlySafair’s operations hubs. With only a fleet of 16 Boeing aircraft, it makes tidy profits.