Airbus – Africa Aviation Update

Airbus, the international aircraft manufacturer and aerospace technology corporation, has today (16 September 2024) announced the opening of its new Customer Support Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa. This newly established centre will contribute to strengthening Airbus’ local presence and supporting the growth of the African airline ecosystem. The service hub will serve as a hub for customers in the region, and will provide tailored support and enhance operational efficiency.

The Customer Support Centre is expected to drive the development of existing local capabilities ensuring access to maintenance and training resources This will, according to Airbus not only benefit airlines but the entire industry and local workforce. 

In an up-date on the company’s operations in Africa, Airbus VP customer services stated that “With the rapid expansion of the latest generation aircraft on the continent, Africa requires additional dedicated support and skills to meet the increasing demand for intra-African and international connectivity,”

Airbus’ most recent Global Market Forecast, has predicted substantial growth in demand for Commercial aircraft in Africa, with a current total commercial air fleet in Africa of around 670, Airbus estimates an additional 1190 plus 270 replacement aircraft totalling 1 460 passenger and freight aircraft that will be needed by the airline industry in Africa over the next 20-years.

Forecasts estimate that the additional workforce that will be required for this expansion will be 15 000 additional pilots and up to 20 000 mechanics that will be required to meet the surge in the anticipated air travel demand in Africa. 

In a briefing on Sunday afternoon Joep Ellers, the Airline Marketing Director – Africa stated that the airline industry not only provides direct employment but an indirect employment on a ratio of 1:8, with eight additional indirect jobs created in support and supply chain companies, for every single job created by commercial aviation.

Airbus has a long history with African Airlines with the first Airbus flown in Africa, an Airbus A300, purchased by South African Airlines back in 1976. Today there are 257 Airbus passenger aircraft in-service with 36 African airlines equating to 38% of all commercial aircraft in Africa currently.

Airbus’ latest 20-year Global Market Forecast (GMF) for the 2024-2043 period offers a forward-looking view of air traffic and fleet evolutions.

Key Forecast Take-Away’s:

• Traffic and airline operations are broadly back to pre-COVID levels or higher with a few exceptions. Consequently 2023 has become the new baseline year for traffic and fleet for the first time since 2019.
• The GMF 2024 connects drivers for air transport demand with a growth of 2,8x the existing airline fleet in Africa with 83% (1210) of the new aircraft required expected to be single body and 17% or 250 wide-body aircraft.
• The report highlights future passenger traffic growth and aircraft demand (for aircraft over 100 seats category) as well as air freight development and demand for cargo aircraft (for aircraft >10t of payload)
• There is a greater need for more fuel efficient aircraft that will continue with only 30% of commercial aircraft globally in the new efficient category aircraft and only 25% in Africa