Embraer forecasts market demand for 240 new jets with 70 to 130 seats in Africa

Embraer Commercial Aviation released during the Marrakech Air Show, in Morocco, its market outlook for Africa, which forecasts that the region will take delivery of 240 new jets in the 70 to 130-seat segment over the next 20 years. The 70 to 130-seat jet fleet in service is estimated to grow from the current 120 units to 260 by 2034. According to the Embraer study, there are still ample connectivity opportunities within the African region although traffic remains concentrated in the largest cities. Of more than 300 of the region’s airports operating in 2015, only eight connected 25 or more cities while 240 airports linked five or less cities. Some 90% of city pairs have traffic volumes of up to 300 daily passengers yet the current fleet is comprised of large capacity aircraft – around 70% of the aircraft in the single-aisle jet fleet have more than 130 seats. Nearly 55% of intra-regional markets do not have direct flights and some 67% of all non-stop markets within the region are served with less than one daily frequency. This is a clear indication of the opportunities for air service expansion and for right capacity aircraft deployment.