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Nigeria’s scheduled domestic airline capacity declined to 978,000 seats in November 2026, falling below the 1 million-seat milestone recorded in October, despite maintaining strong year-on-year growth.
According to the latest data published for November 2026 by OAG Aviation Worldwide, which tracks scheduled seats across the African market, the figure represents a 29.1% increase from approximately 757,400 seats in November 2025, but a reduction of about 22,000 seats from October’s level.
Nigeria recorded a 25.3% year-on-year increase in total scheduled airline capacity to 1.296 million seats in November 2026, up from 1.035 million a year earlier. It added 261,800 seats during the period, recording the fastest growth rate among Africa’s 10 largest aviation markets.
Egypt remained Africa’s largest aviation market, with capacity rising 9.8% to 3.18 million seats, while South Africa ranked second with 2.36 million seats, down 2%.
Morocco recorded 2.05 million seats, up 9.1%, while Ethiopia had 1.39 million seats, representing a 5.2% increase.
Nigeria ranked fifth with 1.296 million seats, ahead of Algeria at 948,334, Kenya at 896,789 and Tanzania at 644,025.
Ghana completed the top 10 with 292,113 seats, while South Africa and Tunisia were the only two markets to record year-on-year declines.
Within Nigeria, domestic capacity fell from approximately 1 million seats in October to 978,000 in November, a month-on-month reduction of about 22,000 seats. However, compared with November 2025, capacity increased by 220,600 seats, representing year-on-year growth of 29.1%.
South Africa remained Africa’s largest domestic aviation market, with about 1.6 million seats, although its capacity declined by 3.8% year-on-year. Nigeria’s domestic growth also exceeded Egypt’s 18.4% increase and Congo’s 26% growth.
Daily Sun reported that in October, Nigeria recorded the fastest growth in airline seat capacity among Africa’s 10 largest aviation markets, adding more than 400,000 seats year-on-year. This meant that airlines increased the number of seats available for passengers travelling to, from or within Nigeria.
Nigeria had 1,347,300 seats on offer in October, compared with 932,300 a year earlier. This gain of 414,900 seats represented growth of 44.5%, the highest of any country in the continent’s top 10. The data attributed the increase to currency reforms, a new aircraft leasing agreement and growing confidence among airlines that want to fly into the country. It should also be noted, however, that more domestic airlines have emerged this year, while existing carriers such as Air Peace, United Nigeria Airlines, Ibom Air and ValueJet are increasingly expanding their capacity.
Nigeria’s growth was not limited to international routes. Domestic capacity rose 54.6% to roughly one million seats, adding 362,600 seats over the year, which made Nigeria one of the fastest-growing domestic markets in Africa. Only Congo grew faster on that measure, at 49.7%, though Congo’s domestic market remains small, with 144,200 seats this month. Algeria’s domestic capacity also rose, by 19.9%.
Lagos airport leads top 10
Lagos airport handled about 0.52 million seats in October, an increase of 29.7%, or 119,200 seats, compared with the same month last year. This was the fastest growth among Africa’s 10 largest airports. Casablanca in Morocco followed, rising 13.6%, or 86,800 seats.
