Airbus sees demand for 160 new aircraft in Nigeria

Airbus predicts demand for nearly 160 new passenger and freight aircraft in Nigeria two decades from now, propelled by a dynamic economy and urbanization in Africa’s most populous nation. The number will equal 13.5 percent of all new aircraft demand in Africa over the reference period.

The market forecast, representing a nearly three-fold increase in demand, was presented to the media on September 12, on the eve of the 7th edition of the Aviation Africa Summit and Exhibition, as part of the airframer’s 2023 Global Market Forecast. Aviation Africa 2023 was held in Abuja September 13-14. Details of demand in Africa were already shared in the full GMF that was released ahead of the Paris Airshow

in June.

Airbus, which has 265 aircraft flying with 36 operators in Africa, says with Lagos and Abuja being among some of the world’s fastest-growing cities, airlines serving Nigeria will require 131 single-aisle aircraft in the category of the A220, A320 families, and 28 widebody aircraft in the A330 and A350 families. Demand growth will further be supported by ongoing airspace liberalization initiatives such as the Single African Air Transport Market SAATM, to which more than three dozen states have already signed.