At a Glance
- Africa’s legacy airlines emerged as state-backed carriers linking capitals, trade routes, and early post-independence economies.
- Despite crises, select African airlines scaled globally through partnerships, disciplined management, and network expansion.
- These carriers remain vital to tourism, exports, diaspora travel, and AfCFTA-driven intra-African mobility.
Africa’s aviation industry was born in the colonial era, matured through post-independence state-building, and today sits at the crossroads of reform, private capital, and rising travel demand.
Long before the rise of low-cost carriers and regional hubs, a handful of airlines laid the foundation for air connectivity across the continent, linking capitals, opening trade routes, and integrating African economies into global commerce.
Many of Africa’s oldest airlines began as state-backed or public-private ventures, reflecting governments’ early view of aviation as strategic infrastructure rather than a purely commercial enterprise.
While several struggled under political interference, currency volatility, and weak infrastructure, others evolved into globally competitive carriers, leveraging scale, partnerships, and disciplined management.
These legacy airlines have endured oil shocks, pandemics, airline collapses, and fierce competition from Middle Eastern and European giants. Yet their survival underscores aviation’s enduring role as an economic enabler, supporting tourism, exports, diaspora mobility, and investment flows.
As Africa’s middle class expands and intra-African travel gains momentum under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), these airlines, whether restructured, revived, or reinvented, remain central to the continent’s mobility story.
Here are 10 of Africa’s oldest airlines profiled by Shore Africa, whose histories mirror the evolution of African aviation itself.
1. Misr Airwork/EgyptAir
Country: Egypt
Founded: 1932
Founded as Misr Airwork, EgyptAir is Africa’s oldest airline, now a Star Alliance member and a key North African aviation hub.
2. South African Airways
Country: South Africa
Founded: 1934
Born from Union Airways’ nationalization, SAA became Africa’s most influential carrier before financial troubles triggered repeated restructurings.
3. Ethiopian Airlines
Country: Ethiopia
Founded: 1945
Africa’s most successful airline, Ethiopian Airlines combines state backing with commercial discipline, operating the continent’s largest network.
4. Air Algérie
Country: Algeria
Founded: 1947
Established post-independence, Air Algérie remains vital to Algeria’s connectivity despite persistent operational and financial challenges.
5. Tunisair
Country: Tunisia
Founded: 1948
Tunisia’s flag carrier plays a key role in tourism-driven travel, navigating competition from European and low-cost rivals.
6. Royal Air Maroc
Country: Morocco
Founded: 1957
Morocco’s national airline has expanded aggressively, positioning Casablanca as a major hub linking Africa, Europe, and the Americas.
7. Air Zimbabwe
Country: Zimbabwe
Founded: 1967
Founded as Air Rhodesia, the airline has struggled for decades amid sanctions, aging fleets, and capital constraints.
9. Air Mauritius
Country: Mauritius
Founded: 1967
A rare success story, Air Mauritius leveraged tourism growth to build a resilient long-haul and regional network.
10. Air Botswana
Country: Botswana
Founded: 1972
A small but strategic carrier supporting Botswana’s tourism economy, particularly routes tied to safari destinations.
