As the year rolls to an end, here is the list of the leading ten largest airlines in Africa measured by available seat miles in 2024.
Topping the list at number One of course is Ethiopian Airlines with 11,179 flights, 1.98 million seats and 3.68 million available seat miles.
Seat miles are usually calculated by multiplying the number of miles that a given airplane will be flying by the number of seats available for a given flight, because this is how the operators make money.
Coming second is Egypt Air of Misr, making 7,158 flights with a total of 1.30 million seats and 1.87 million available seat miles.
The Royal Air Maroc of Morocco recorded 5,107 flights with a total of 789,150 seats and amassed 1.149 million available seat miles.
The only entry from East Africa is Kenya Airways with 3,778 flights, carrying 498,673 seats and recording 802,539,251 available seat miles in 2024. The airline was placed in the fourth position.
At number five is Air Algerie of Algeria making 6,192 flights with 790,202 seats, recording 733,657,494 available seat miles.
Egypt AirCairo was placed at number 6 with 3,131 flights, 479,045 seats and 625,828,084 available seat miles.
Ranked at number seven is Air Mauritius which makes 1,081 flights, carrying 181,892 seats with 512,510,072 available seat miles.
The Safair of South Africa recorded 4,600 flights, carrying 849,768 seats and amassing 500,079,072 seat miles and is slotted at number eight.
Tunisair of Tunisia comes at number nine, recording 1,890 flights, with 349,068 seats and 337,159,289 seat miles.
Closing the top-ten listing is Airlink of South Africa with 7,138 flights, a total of 497,021 seats and recording 290,045, 462 seat miles.
The Available seat miles (ASM) is the measure of an aircraft carrying capacity that is available to generate revenues.
Available seat miles refer to how many seat miles are actually available for purchase on a particular airline.