African Aviation Trails

In this trail: Airlines continued expanding global connectivity, with FlyNamibia, Riyadh Air, EgyptAir, TUI Fly Belgium, Air Europa, Porter Airlines, Belavia, Ethiopian Airlines, ASKY Airlines, and Air Congo launching or increasing routes across Africa and beyond, while United Airlines challenged United Nigeria Airlines' proposed U.S. expansion over trademark concerns.

In this trail, airlines continued expanding connectivity across Africa and beyond, with Eswatini Air launching the first direct link to Zambia, Royal Air Maroc adding Bilbao to its Spanish network, AEGEAN introducing Athens–Casablanca flights, and SalamAir opening the first non-stop Muscat–Mogadishu route. EgyptAir confirmed plans to launch Los Angeles services, Ethiopian Airlines announced three new domestic destinations, while TAAG Angola, Sichuan Airlines, and Airlink advanced network expansion initiatives, underscoring continued growth in regional and long-haul air connectivity.

Air Sierra Leone has expanded its UK network with the launch of weekly Banjul–London Gatwick flights, strengthening West Africa–UK connectivity and supporting tourism and business travel. Royal Air Maroc unveiled a major European network expansion with new routes linking northern Morocco to Spain, reinforcing its long-term growth strategy ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

Airlink expanded its Southern African network with a new Johannesburg–Nacala route and increased Johannesburg–Ndola frequencies, while Safarilink added afternoon Nairobi–Entebbe flights via Kisumu and Skyward Airlines launched services to Vipingo Ridge. Global Aviation introduced FlyVetivAir charter holidays linking Durban and Réunion, Cabo Verde Airlines announced the return of Praia–Recife flights, and Egypt's Capital International Airport welcomed its first scheduled international service. Elsewhere, flynas marked three years of Saudi Arabia–Morocco operations with plans for a new Rabat route, Magma Aviation expanded Nairobi–Liège cargo capacity to support horticultural exports, and Africa World Airlines revealed plans to acquire larger aircraft to strengthen its regional network.

Sudan Airways restored scheduled commercial flights to Khartoum International Airport for the first time in over two years, while Air Sénégal reinstated full widebody capacity on its Dakar–Paris route using a wet-leased Boeing 777-200ER. SalamAir launched the first direct Muscat–Port Sudan service, and Air Tanzania inaugurated flights to Accra via Lagos, expanding its West African network. Lufthansa Cargo introduced scheduled freighter services to Algiers, Kuwait Airways and Gulf Air expanded seasonal services to Egyptian destinations, and Air Mauritius increased Perth frequencies. Meanwhile, Air Sierra Leone launched its Banjul–London Gatwick service, Air Zimbabwe announced plans to resume Harare–London flights by June 2026, Condor will begin daily Frankfurt–Cairo flights from May, and Ethiopian Airlines temporarily suspended flights to Mekelle amid renewed security concerns in Ethiopia’s Tigray region.

African and international aviation networks continued evolving as Royal Air Maroc launched Casablanca–St. Petersburg flights, Air Cairo resumed services to Amman City Airport, Air Tanzania entered Ghana, EgyptAir expanded UK capacity, Sudan Airways resumed operations, Kenya Airways cancelled New York flights due to US storms, while Air France and Air Algérie restructured European routes.

Regional air connectivity continued expanding as Royal Jordanian resumed Amman–Misrata flights, Royal Air Maroc launched Saint Petersburg–Casablanca services, Airlink sought approval to market European codeshare flights from Johannesburg, and Volotea expanded Marseille–Algeria operations, strengthening passenger connectivity, tourism, business travel and international network access across Africa, Europe and the Middle East.

African and Middle Eastern aviation networks expanded through new routes by Royal Air Maroc Cargo, Kuwait Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Oman Air and Royal Air Maroc, while Air Côte d’Ivoire adjusted long-haul plans. Meanwhile, Saudia assumed Comoros Hajj charters, Air Mauritius delayed Heathrow’s return, and Somaliland suspended Air Djibouti flights.