The African air transport market has the potential to spice up socio-economic development across all regions if connectivity is enhanced. Delta Air Lines has realized the market’s potential and can use its partnerships to extend its footprint on the continent.
Delta has seen a rise in demand for its African destinations and has identified it as a region of importance. It has tailored its operations to fulfill the necessities of passengers traveling between the USA and its various destinations on the continent.
Post-pandemic increase in demand
Based on the International Air Transport Association (IATA), passenger traffic in Africa has significantly recovered in 2023. Certain regions have surpassed pre-pandemic activity, with Central and West Africa at 108%, Eastern Africa at 110%, and Northern Africa at 111% of 2019 levels.
Photo: Markus Mainka I Shutterstock.
Conversely, passenger traffic in Southern Africa is recovering slowly, at 86% of 2019 levels. The figures for all these regions are expected to proceed rising going into 2024. Delta’s load aspects out and in of Africa have been very high this 12 months, and the airline says it has returned to 2019 levels.
The carrier has seen very positive trends in the primary and second quarters of 2023 in comparison with the identical period last 12 months. The airline has witnessed a rise in combined business and leisure travel and expects much more robust demand within the third and fourth quarters of the 12 months.
Commitment to serving Africa
Delta has served Africa for over 17 years, the longest of any US carrier. From Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL), it flies to several destinations in Africa under its code, including ten flights per week to Johannesburg OR Tambo (JNB) and Cape Town International (CPT).
Photo: Delta Air Lines
With a whole lot of well-established destinations in markets of upper activity, the airline is seeking to scale up operations in other regions and has identified Africa as a growth area. Delta Director of Sales, Africa, Middle East & Indian Sub-Continent Jimmy Eichelgruen said in an interview with Easy Flying;
“The US is vitally necessary, but it surely’s a mature market, so one has to take a look at international destinations. So we have a really mature market, and you then’ve got Europe, for instance, which is mature, you then have a look at IATA figures, what looks like a growth area, Africa. So obviously, it’s in our interest to highlight Africa, and we’re committed to serving Africa.”
The carrier can be working with its three way partnership partners, like Air France-KLM and Virgin Atlantic, to serve more African cities. This month, Air France launched Boeing 787 Dreamliner flights to Dar es Salaam via Zanzibar, giving Delta access to a different destination in East Africa.
As a SkyTeam member, Delta also has a strategic partnership with Kenya Airways, allowing passengers to travel from specific African destinations to the USA via Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Airport (NBO).
Tailored services for various regions
The US carrier has tailored its services and in-flight experience to fulfill the necessities of passengers from different markets. This includes serving local dishes from countries they’re flying to and offering local channel broadcasts as a part of the in-flight entertainment.
Photo: Delta Air Lines
The airline’s operations in Africa are profitable, so it’s now working with different communities to boost development and promote sustainability. It’s engaging in various projects to scale back waste and supply employment for disadvantaged individuals. Jimmy Eichelgruen added;
“In business class, you get these amenity kits. What we do now, we use sustainable products and going back to communities; these are all handmade by disadvantaged people. We use sustainable materials and just buy those amenity kits, now we have reduced plastic waste by 90,000 kilos a 12 months.”
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