Africa Weekly Aviation Trails: Week 2, 2025 Highlights.

Introduction.

The Somaliland government is moving forward with plans to reclaim control over its airspace, a significant development that could escalate tensions with Somalia. The airspace, currently managed by the Somali government, was previously under international oversight before being transferred several years ago. Fuad Ahmed Nuuh, Somaliland’s Minister of Aviation and Airport Development, has confirmed that restoring control over the airspace is a top priority for the government. The decision comes amid a protracted dispute with Somalia regarding airspace management, which has persisted for years.

African Aviation: Projections and Statistics.

The National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) has revealed a remarkable growth in domestic air travel within Rwanda. RwandAir Ltd, the country’s national carrier, saw domestic passengers increase from 5,922 in 2020 to 22,547 in 2023, reflecting a staggering 280% growth. The sole domestic route, connecting Kigali to Kamembe in Rusizi District, utilizes a Bombardier Q-400 NextGen aircraft. While the pandemic caused passenger numbers to dip significantly in 2020, the steady recovery from 11,016 passengers in 2021 has been impressive.

In Tunisia, air passenger traffic reached an all-time high in 2024, with 9,646,949 passengers transiting through Tunisian airports, up 9.4% from 2023. Tunis-Carthage International Airport led the way with 7.25 million passengers (+8.8%), while Djerba-Zarzis International Airport posted a +12.8% (with 2,203,957 pax) increase. Notably, Tozeur-Nafta Airport achieved a 76.5% (2 679 passengers) rise in passenger numbers. Aircraft movements rose by 4.9% (79,155) with overflights surging by 14.7% (61,617), reflecting Tunisia’s growing prominence in regional air traffic.