The Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, (FAAN), and Vice President of Airport Council International Africa, ACI-Africa, Mrs. Olubunmi Onabanjo-Kuku, has said Africa is leading global aviation recovery, as she welcomed delegates to the ACI Africa Regional Conference & Exhibition 2026 at the Abuja Continental Hotel, Abuja.
On the continent’s performance, Mrs. Onabanjo-Kuku stated that, “According to the latest data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), African airlines recorded a 6.4 per cent year-on-year increase in international passenger demand in July 2026.” Putting that into perspective, she stated that “while global international demand actually declined by 0.1 per cent during the same period, Africa was expanding. We are not just participating in global aviation recovery—we are leading it. And I am proud to be standing in the same room with the men and women moving Africans and their visitors safely and in comfort.”
She added that, “Our continent’s overall passenger demand grew by 5.2 per cent, second only to Latin America and the Caribbean, and substantially ahead of the global average of 0.2 per cent. This is not a marginal improvement. This continent is on the move.”
On Nigeria’s market, she stated, “Nigeria, my home and the host nation for this conference, is proud to be at the forefront of this growth story. Our aviation market now ranks as the fourth-largest in Africa, with over 18.8 million domestic and international passengers recorded in 2025, representing a year-on-year increase of 11.9 per cent. The Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos—whose oldest terminal is being rehabilitated and upgraded as we speak—recorded the fastest growth in scheduled seat capacity among Africa’s ten largest airports in September, with a remarkable 24.1 per cent increase.”
She said, “According to OAG data, Nigeria’s total scheduled airline capacity for September 2026 reached 1.19 million seats, a 37.4 per cent increase from the same period last year—the fastest growth among Africa’s top ten aviation markets,” noting that, “These figures are not abstract. They represent millions of Africans connecting with family, doing business, accessing healthcare, and exploring opportunities. They represent livelihoods. They represent economic growth. They represent the future we are building together.”
Mrs. Onabanjo-Kuku however cautioned that, “Growth alone is not the full story. Africa’s aviation sector faces structural headwinds that we must confront with clear eyes and collective resolve. Our continent accounts for just 1 per cent of global air traffic despite having 18 per cent of the world’s population.”
She said on FAAN’s journey since 2023, “Since 2023, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has been on a deliberate transformation journey—one that embodies this conference’s theme. We have learned that transformation is possible even under constraint.”
On passenger experience, she said, “We have established the Passenger Experience Hub, a dedicated initiative to make speed, predictability, comfort, and human assistance central to our operations. We recognise that airports are not merely infrastructure—they are experiences.”
On quality management, she said, “FAAN achieved dual ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 certifications in January 2026. This is not merely a certificate on a wall—it represents a systematic commitment to quality, environmental responsibility, and continual improvement.”