African air travel is booming — but the airlines themselves aren’t.

Loading player...
GUEST – Phuthego Mojapele – Aviation Analyst

Despite passenger numbers rising faster than the global average, African carriers are still trapped in a low-profit, high-cost cycle that threatens the sector’s future. Why is the continent experiencing growth without gain?

In this episode, we unpack the paradox with aviation analyst, who helps us make sense of why Africa earns just $1.30 profit per passenger while the global industry makes nearly $8 and why Africa has the highest operating costs in the world.

From soaring fuel prices and heavy taxes, to limited route networks, aging fleets, blocked airline funds, weak connectivity, and policy barriers, we explore the real structural issues constraining African aviation.
11 Dec 2025 2PM English South Africa Business News · Investing

Other recent episodes

SA’s Draft AI Policy: The Cost of Getting It Wrong

Free SA spokesperson Gideon Joubert discusses the organization's concerns about South Africa’s Draft National AI Policy—including expanded bureaucracy, duplicated institutions, and barriers for startups.
21 Apr 4PM 5 min

Legal AI Time Bombs

Pinsent Masons’ Geoffrey Allsop explains why employers are already legally liable for AI‑driven decisions under South African law. We explore discrimination risks from foreign‑trained models and what the Draft AI Policy signals for workplace regulation.
21 Apr 4PM 9 min

Understanding SA’s Draft AI Policy

Werksmans’ Ahmore Burger‑Smidt unpacks South Africa’s Draft National AI Policy. This includes the proposed new AI institutions, privacy blind spots, and the implications for business.
21 Apr 4PM 21 min