More intra-African flights, but visas and fares still deter travellers

More seats are available on flights within Africa, but travellers on the continent still face visa rules, high fares and indirect routings that make regional trips harder than long-haul ones. The African Airlines Association (AFRAA) reported that seats available on intra-African tourism routes rose 10.5% year-on-year in August 2026 — a measure of available supply, not of passengers actually carried.

Key facts

• Seats on intra-African tourism routes rose 10.5% year-on-year in August 2026, according to AFRAA.
• Rwanda, Ghana, Kenya, Seychelles, Benin, Gambia and Tanzania now offer visa-free travel to many Africans.
• Average net profit per passenger in Africa is $1.30, compared with $7.90 worldwide, according to ACC Aviation.
• Boeing forecasts growth in African air traffic between 2025 and 2045.
• Named priorities for the sector: connectivity, visa facilitation, marketing budgets, investment and opening the airspace.

Which African countries offer visa-free entry?

Rwanda, Ghana, Kenya, Seychelles, Benin, Gambia and Tanzania now offer visa-free travel to many Africans. No details are given on which nationalities qualify, how long they may stay, or what documents and fees apply to everyone else.

Why are regional flights still expensive?

According to ACC Aviation, the average net profit per passenger in Africa is worth only $1.30, against $7.90 on average worldwide. High fuel costs, taxes, fees and charges, an "African risk premium" and difficulties in repatriating money weigh on airlines' revenues, which translates into high ticket prices and a lack of convenient connections.

Taqi Moledina, president of the African Travel & Tourism Association (ATTA), says the potential of African aviation is limited by the absence of a real pan-African agreement to open the airspace. Various regulations and protectionist policies prevent competition, and limited links within the continent force many travellers to transit via Europe or the Middle East, which reduces the appeal of short trips and family holidays.

What is being called for?

Najib Balala, former Kenyan Minister of Tourism and Executive Vice President of the World Travel & Tourism Council, argues that intra-African tourism should be developed first, so that demand from African travellers drives infrastructure and airline growth. He lists five priorities: connectivity, visa facilitation, marketing with specific budgets, investment and opening the air space, with the aim "to abolish visas for Africans, to open borders".

What do African travellers want?

The tourism offer is still tailored mostly to international visitors, while continental travellers tend to want short stays, visits to family and friends, cultural immersion, a return to roots for Africans living abroad, high-end or local experiences and shorter distances. Confidence in the product is also an issue: quality can be inconsistent, reviews are scarce and standards are hard to find.

What this means for travellers

Travellers holding an African passport should check whether their nationality qualifies for visa-free entry in Rwanda, Ghana, Kenya, Seychelles, Benin, Gambia or Tanzania before booking, and compare routings carefully, since many journeys still transit outside the continent. No new visa measures, fees or start dates have been announced; the points raised are priorities rather than adopted rules.

Boeing forecasts an increase in African air traffic between 2025 and 2045, and Africa's population is predicted to grow strongly. Whether that turns into easier regional travel depends, on this analysis, on cheaper fares, simpler procedures and wider visa access.