Written by: Qusay Ahmed

Ethiopian Airlines topped the list of the 15 best airlines in Africa, according to a ranking circulating on travel and aviation platforms, which highlighted the continent's major air carriers in terms of performance, expansion and services provided to passengers.

Ethiopian lead, strong Egyptian-Moroccan competition

EgyptAir came in second, confirming its position as one of the oldest and most important airlines in the region, and a prominent member of the “Star Alliance”, while Royal Air Maroc came in third, benefiting from the expansion of its international network and its connection between the European and African continents.

The top five also included Air Algérie in fourth place, followed by South Africa’s FlySafair, which has stood out in the low-cost economy aviation sector.

In the following positions, Kenya Airways came in sixth place, followed by Nigeria’s Air Peace, while South African Airways came in eighth, despite the financial challenges it has faced in recent years.

Low-cost airlines are making their mark in Africa

The list also included Airlink in ninth place, Air Mauritius in tenth place, and TAAG Angola Airlines in eleventh place.

In the lower ranks came Tunisair, followed by Air Tanzania, Air Côte d'Ivoire, and finally RwandAir in fifteenth place.

This ranking reflects the diversity and development of the African aviation sector, which is experiencing remarkable growth driven by increased travel and trade within the continent, along with investments in modernizing air fleets and improving the quality of services.

Experts believe that competition between African airlines has become fiercer, especially as many of them seek to transform into regional air transport hubs, connecting African capitals directly without going through Europe or the Middle East.

The ranking also points to the rise of low-cost airlines, which are playing an increasing role in facilitating travel within the continent, at a time when major companies continue to expand their international networks to strengthen their global presence.

This ranking confirms that the aviation sector in Africa is moving rapidly towards development, despite the challenges related to infrastructure and operating costs, which enhances the continent's chances of becoming one of the most important emerging aviation markets globally.