Africa’s skies are going to get a whole lot busier

The future looks bright for air travel across Africa.

It’s predicted that by 2034, 190 million more flights segments will be flown across the continent. To put that figure in context, that rate of expansion will bring the total number of passengers up to approximately 308 million annually.

Tanzania and Ethiopia are expected to add some 10 million passengers each, followed by Uganda and Zambia with 4 million apiece.

Rwanda follows in quick succession, with an expected 2.5 million more passengers a year.

These nations will be battling for dominance of the skies with aerial behemoths South Africa and Nigeria, predicted to carry 26 million and 18 million respectively by 2034.

Part of the reason behind the rapid expansion within the sector is the continent’s economic boom.

A burgeoning middle class has increased demand and the availability of flights – the emergence of budget airlines and improved connections are the result.

In the past many journeys across Africa have been more convenient – and often cheaper – when travelers flew via foreign hubs such as Dubai, London and Amsterdam.

But the rise of budget airlines is finally realizing the dream set out when African nations signed an “open skies” agreement in 1988. New routes are opening up and more local carriers are operating along them.

Scroll through the gallery below to discover which budget airlines are taking off across the continent.

fastjet —

Initially plying domestic routes in Tanzania, fastjet started small in 2011, but has since expanded to four other countries. With Ed Winter, a former easyJet executive at the helm, it's looking to break into the lucrative South African domestic market.

Mango —

Flying within South Africa and to Zanzibar, Mango loves flash sales and will rebate flyers who join its mailing list.

Kulula —

Launched in 2001, Kulula offers what sometimes seems a lighthearted take on flying, with bright green planes and wisecracking flight attendants. But it's serious business. Its operator Comair is partnered with British Airways, Air France and Kenya Airways, and it's spread from South Africa to five other countries.

flyafrica.com —

Filling the void left by the shrunken Air Zimbabwe, flyafrica.com offers some seriously tempting deals -- when it launched some flights were as little as ($9). It also runs regular flights from South Africa to Harare, popular with Zimbabwean expats.

FlySafair —

One of the newest kids on the block, FlySafair launched in October 2014 in direct competition with Kulula and Mango. Ticket prices have been pared back recently to reflect lower fuel prices.

Fly540 —

After ventures into Ghana and Angola proved costly, Fly540 refocused its attentions to Kenya where it has achieved great success connecting remote locations such as Lodwar with the rest of the country.

JamboJet —

Another Kenyan airline, this one serving only four cities, JamboJet has recently been cleared to fly across Africa from Nairobi and Mombasa.

Dana Air —

Closed in 2012 following a serious crash, Dana Air is back. It's still limited to domestic flights within Nigeria, but an international license is on the horizon.

Skywise —

A reboot for the defunct 1time, Skywise is run by the same team of executives. Its main selling point: no charges for checked baggage.

flydubai.com —

Although not strictly African, flydubai.com nevertheless connects 12 cities on the continent -- albeit via Dubai. Hargeisa in Somaliland is the next location to feature on its destination list.

10 budget airlines changing Africa's skies

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