Domestic air travel continued to gain ground across Africa in 2026 as airlines increased capacity on major business and tourism routes.
OAG data showed that total airline capacity across the continent reached 27.3 million seats in August 2026, up 8.4% from the previous year. Domestic capacity grew even faster, rising by 11%, although international flights still accounted for 79% of the market.
AeroTrail Africa’s ranking for the first half of the year shows where domestic travel demand was strongest. South Africa dominated the list with seven routes. Egypt followed with four, Nigeria had three, while Kenya placed one route among the top 15.
15. Johannesburg to East London
The route between Johannesburg and East London recorded 272,927 scheduled one-way seats.
It connects South Africa’s main commercial centre with an Eastern Cape city built around port activity, tourism and automotive manufacturing.
14. Abuja to Port Harcourt
Airlines scheduled 309,155 one-way seats between Abuja and Port Harcourt during the first half of 2026.
The route links Nigeria’s capital with one of its most important oil and gas cities. Government officials, energy workers and business travellers make up a large part of the traffic.
Its place on the list helped Nigeria finish with three routes in the top 15, the highest number for any West African country.
13. Lagos to Port Harcourt
Lagos to Port Harcourt recorded 343,859 scheduled one-way seats.
The corridor connects Nigeria’s commercial capital with the heart of the Niger Delta economy. It remains an important route for corporate travellers, oil and gas professionals and passengers moving between both cities.
12. Johannesburg to George
The Johannesburg to George route carried capacity of 351,329 one-way seats.
George serves as a gateway to the Garden Route and several popular destinations in the Western Cape. Tourism remains one of the biggest drivers of travel on the corridor.
11. Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh
Airlines offered 368,213 one-way seats between Cairo and Sharm El Sheikh.
The Red Sea resort city attracts travellers for its beaches, diving sites and hotels. That steady tourism demand keeps the route among Egypt’s busiest domestic connections.
10. Cairo to Hurghada
Cairo to Hurghada placed tenth with 409,901 scheduled one-way seats.
Hurghada is another major Red Sea destination. The route serves local holidaymakers as well as international visitors who connect through Cairo.
9. Nairobi to Mombasa
The Nairobi to Mombasa corridor recorded 453,555 one-way seats.
It links Kenya’s capital with the country’s leading coastal city and serves both business and leisure travellers. It was the only East African route to appear in the top 15.
8. Cairo to Aswan
Airlines scheduled 480,880 one-way seats between Cairo and Aswan.
Aswan draws travellers for its Nile cruises, ancient sites and proximity to Abu Simbel. The route’s position reflects the importance of tourism to Egypt’s domestic aviation market.
7. Cape Town to Johannesburg Lanseria
Cape Town to Lanseria recorded 512,859 scheduled one-way seats.
Lanseria gives passengers another route into Johannesburg, particularly for those travelling to the northern suburbs and nearby business districts.
Its high ranking shows that demand between Cape Town and Johannesburg extends beyond the country’s biggest airports.
6. Cairo to Luxor
The Cairo to Luxor route recorded 524,327 one-way seats.
Luxor remains one of Egypt’s most important historical destinations. Its temples, monuments and archaeological sites attract strong domestic and international traffic.
5. Johannesburg to Gqeberha
Johannesburg to Gqeberha, formerly Port Elizabeth, recorded 581,758 scheduled one-way seats.
The route supports travel to one of South Africa’s major automotive and industrial centres. It also serves tourists visiting the Eastern Cape’s beaches and wildlife attractions.
4. Cape Town to Durban
Airlines scheduled 638,644 one-way seats between Cape Town and Durban.
Both cities are major tourism and business centres, which gives the route a steady mix of corporate travellers, holidaymakers and people visiting friends and relatives.
3. Lagos to Abuja
Lagos to Abuja was Africa’s third busiest domestic route, with 888,070 scheduled one-way seats.
The route connects Nigeria’s commercial capital with its political centre. It carries government officials, executives, entrepreneurs and passengers connecting to international flights through Lagos.
It was also the busiest domestic air corridor in West Africa and the region’s only route in Africa’s top 10.
2. Johannesburg to Durban
Johannesburg to Durban placed second with 2,038,518 scheduled one-way seats.
The route connects South Africa’s largest city with Durban, home to the country’s busiest seaport and one of its leading tourism markets.
It was one of only two domestic routes on the continent to exceed two million seats during the period.
1. Johannesburg to Cape Town
Johannesburg to Cape Town ranked as Africa’s busiest domestic air route in the first half of 2026.
Airlines scheduled 2,288,410 one-way seats on the corridor. The route connects South Africa’s economic centre with its legislative capital and one of the continent’s leading tourism destinations.
Its capacity was more than twice that of Lagos to Abuja, which ranked third.
Why South Africa Dominated the List
South Africa claimed the top two positions and seven routes overall.
Johannesburg appeared repeatedly because it remains the country’s main business and aviation hub. Strong travel demand also connects it with major industrial, coastal and tourism cities.
Egypt’s four routes told a different story. Each one connected Cairo with a leading tourism destination, showing how strongly leisure travel supports the country’s domestic aviation market.
Nigeria’s three routes reflected the movement of business, government and oil-sector travellers between Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt.
What This Means for SMEs
The busiest routes point to cities where travel-related businesses can find steady demand.
Small companies around Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt can serve passengers through airport transfers, short-stay accommodation, food delivery, meeting spaces and business travel support.
Travel agencies and logistics firms can also use the ranking to identify routes with frequent passenger movement. That can help them decide where to market services or build partnerships.
Still, high airline capacity does not guarantee profit. Businesses must account for fuel prices, airport access, ticket costs and changes in seasonal demand.
The Bigger Picture
South Africa continues to lead Africa’s domestic aviation market by a wide margin. Johannesburg to Cape Town and Johannesburg to Durban each recorded more than two million one-way seats.
Lagos to Abuja placed a distant third but remained the strongest domestic route in West Africa.
The ranking shows where business, tourism and government activity drive the most air travel. It also highlights the cities where transport, hospitality and travel-focused SMEs may find the clearest commercial opportunities.