East African Carrier, Ethiopian Airlines has named as the largest airline in Africa with its arrays of fleet of aircraft and its numerous route network it operates.
The list according to simpleflying.com, also include North African carrier, Egyptair, Royal Air Maroc, Air Algérie and Kenya Airways.
As the world begins to start flying again following a couple of years of lockdowns and restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we thought we would take an in-depth look at Africa and see who are the largest airlines in the continent.
Rather than going by passenger numbers, which have been severely down and not a good metric due to certain countries’ COVID-19 entry requirements, we will compile our list based on fleet size.
READ: Aviation: Ethiopian has 5 flights Daily and 29 weekly flights between Africa and America as it Starts 3rd US Flight via Lome, Togo to Washington
Using information taken from the aviation data and statistics website ch-aviation, the top five largest airlines in Africa are:
Ethiopian Airlines
Star Alliance network member Ethiopian Airlines is hands down the continent’s largest airline, thanks to reasonably priced tickets and an extensive network of destinations. Founded in 1945 by Haile Selassie, the airline was his hope of modernizing and shaking off the county’s previous image.
Since its inaugural flight between Addis Ababa and Cairo in 1945, the airline has grown to become Africa’s dominant carrier. Based at its central hub at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD), Ethiopian Airlines has a fleet of 122 aircraft comprising the following aircraft:
• 18 x Airbus A350-900s
• 4 x Boeing 737-700s
• 4 x Boeing 737-8s
• 14 x Boeing 737-800s
• 1 x Boeing 737-800(BCF)
• 3 x Boeing 737-800(SF)
• 3 x Boeing 767-300ERs
• 6 x Boeing 777-200s
• 9 x Boeing 777-200Fs
• 4 x Boeing 777-300ERs
• 19 x Boeing 787-8s
• 8 x Boeing 787-9s
• 29 x DeHavilland Aircraft of Canada DHC-8-Q400s
Egyptair
Despite only having a fleet slightly larger than half of what Ethiopian Airlines has Star Alliance member Egyptair operates passenger and freight services to 70 destinations in the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. With its roots dating back to the early 1930s flying under the name “Misrair” and “United Arab Airlines,” the airline was renamed Egyptair on October 10, 1971. Based at Cairo International Airport (CAI), the state-owned carrier operates a fleet of 67 aircraft comprising the following planes:
• 12 x Airbus A220-300s
• 8 x Airbus A320-200neos
• 2 x Airbus A330-200s
• 29 x Boeing 737-800s
• 6 x Boeing 777-300ERs
• 6 x Boeing 787-9s
Royal Air Maroc
Royal Air Maroc, commonly known as RAM, is Africa’s third-largest airline and was founded in 1953. The name Royal Air Maroc was adopted in 1957 after the Moroccan government acquired a 67.73% stake in the airline. With its central hub at Mohammed V International Airport (CMN) in Casablanca, the oneworld alliance member operates an extensive domestic network together with flights to Europe and the Americas. Royal Air Maroc has a fleet of 55 aircraft comprising the following planes:
• 1 x BAe Systems ARJ100
• 6 x ATR72-600s
• 2 x Boeing 737-8s
• 29 x Boeing 737-800s
• 1 x Boeing 737-800(BBJ)
• 1 x Boeing 747-400
• 1 x Boeing 747-8(BBJ)
• 1 x Boeing 767-300(ERBCF)
• 5 x Boeing 787-8s
• 4 x Boeing 787-9s
• 4 x Embraer ERJ 190-100AR
Air Algérie
With a fleet size equivalent to that of Royal Air Maroc, the national flag carrier of Algeria, Air Algérie shares third place on our list. Founded as Compagnie Générale de Transports Aériens (CGTA) in 1946, when Algeria was still a French Overseas Territory, the plan was to offer flights to Europe for the thousands of Europeans who had emigrated to Algeria.
Following independence in 1962, the Algerian government controlled the airline, establishing its central hub at Houari Boumediene Airport (ALG) in the nation’s capital, Algiers. Here’s a look at its fleet today:
• 8 x Airbus A330-200s
• 12 x ATR72-500s
• 3 x ATR72-600s
• 5 x Boeing 737-600s
• 2 x Boeing 737-700(C)
• 24 x Boeing 737-800s
• 1 x Boeing 737-800(BCF)
Kenya Airways
Founded in 1977, after the dissolution of East African Airways, Kenya Airways became the first African non-government-controlled airline. Kenya Airways became a member of the SkyTeam alliance in 2010 and operates from a central hub at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) in the nation’s capital Nairobi.
Kenya Airways operates a fleet of 36 aircraft comprised of the following planes:
• 2 x Boeing 737-300(SF)
• 2 x Boeing 737-700s
• 8 x Boeing 737-800s
• 9 x Boeing 787-9s
• 15 x Embraer ERJ 190-100ARs
