(Posted 12th March 2026)
The ongoing Iran–US–Israel conflict has triggered global travel disruptions, with Cairo International Airport experiencing the most significant impact on the African continent. Earlier in February, snowstorms and labour strikes across Europe had already disrupted flights into Cairo, but the escalation of the conflict further reduced capacity, pushing the airport’s available seats down to 69,832 on 3 March 2026, one of its lowest levels of the year.
The same day also saw Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD/HAAB) and Cape Town International Airport record their lowest airline capacity levels of 2026 so far. While Cape Town traffic quickly rebounded, Addis Ababa continues to operate below its yearly average.
Elsewhere, O.R. Tambo International Airport recorded its lowest capacity level on 28 March, while Jomo Kenyatta International Airport experienced its lowest capacity on 17 February, largely due to a strike by the Kenya Aviation Workers Union, with the Middle East conflict contributing to a slight additional dip in traffic in the first week of March.
In contrast, West African #airports showed the least volatility linked to the Middle East disruptions. Murtala Muhammed International Airport (#Nigeria), Kotoka International Airport (#Ghana), and Félix?Houphouët?Boigny International Airport (#Côte_d‘Ivoire) registered minimal or no capacity disruption, highlighting the region’s relatively limited exposure to the affected Middle East corridors.
The infographic below illustrates #airline seat capacity trends across major African airports from 1 February to 7 March 2026, providing a snapshot of how global events and regional disruptions have influenced aviation connectivity across the continent.
