Air Peace Returns to Africa's Top 10 Airlines in 2026

In September 2026, airlines serving African markets scheduled 25.8 million seats, reflecting a 9.4% increase from the previous year, according to OAG. Air Peace, a Nigerian carrier, returned to the top 10 at number 10 with 354,804 scheduled seats, up 54.7% from 229,412 seats in September 2025.

This growth was attributed to its sizeable domestic network and expanding regional and international operations, including the addition of a Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft to its fleet in May 2026. Air Cairo entered the ranking at number nine with 360,502 scheduled seats, marking a 14.9% increase from the previous year.

Emirates ranked eighth with 427,100 scheduled seats, up 9.3% from September 2025. The data indicates that international services accounted for 78% of the capacity, with both international and domestic capacities showing year-on-year growth.