Page 18 - World Airnews Magazine May 2021 Edition

AFRICA

AFRICA READY FOR

RIGHT-SIZED FLEETS

By Bernie Baldwin

not breakthrough in Africa, the company Congo Airways for two E190-E2s and two

does have examples of substantial fleets E195-E2s.

t may not yet be considered a mature being successfully operated by carriers, At Airbus, one of the reasons why Mikail
Iaviati on market, but Africa is expected such as Airlink and Kenya Airways. Houari, president, Airbus Africa and
to be a huge area for growth in aircraft “The pre-owned market is very relevant Middle East, believes that his company’s

acquisition during the 2020s. One of the in Africa, probably more than anywhere offering in the crossover jet segment – the
else in the world, and when we consider

features of that growth is likely to be the that, we see significant penetration for the A220 pairing – will sell better than RJs is

ability of carriers to move straight to a segment,” he remarks. because right from the onset, the A220 was

right-sized fleet. “We believe crossover narrowbody designed specifically to address the market
The classic narrowbody workhorses of jets will continue to fare better in the gap between RJs and single-aisles, with a

the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 families market, primarily because it is a region fuselage cross-section optimised to address
the 100-to-150 seat market.
have led the way for many years, and with important inefficiencies to be

understandably so. However, below their overcome. For example, 66% of the total “In Africa, the potential market for

capacity level, there has arguably been less ASKs (available seat kilometres) are flown the A220 is a combination of aircraft

structure in carriers’ fleets. by aircraft with more than 150 seats, but replacement (new replacing old), growth

(upsizing from smaller aircraft) and new
With the advent of the crossover more than half of those flights (55%) have

narrowbody jets such as the Airbus A220 fewer than 130 passengers per day (PPDs). operators,” Houari explains. “From the
Ascend April 2021 database, we identify a

family and Embraer E-Jets (at present, of So it is clear that those large narrowbodies potential market of around 450 aircraft:

course, in their second generation, the E2 are being sub-optimally, and expensively,

family), the gap has been filled between deployed,” Galhardo adds. Replacement of older regional jets (CRJ,

those workhorses and regional jets and “This leads to other issues for the region: E-Jet E1s, Avro, Fokker)- approximately 50

turboprops. low frequencies for domestic and intra- aircraft.

In fact, despite their ability to fly regional flights, leading to poor network Replacement of older single-aisles

reasonably lengthy sectors, regional jets connectivity; low load factors – on average, (737-300/-400/-500/-700, A319, A320) -

never sold in big numbers across Africa. the lowest in the world according to IATA; approximately 250 aircraft

Although the current number of crossover and thus low profitability. We strongly Potential upsizing from smaller regional

narrowbody jets across the continent is believe crossover narrowbodies are the jets (ERJs, CRJs, Fokkers) - approximately

still relatively small, there is considerable right-sized to address those issues,” he 150 aircraft.

optimism for sales figures much bigger than emphasises. “The A220 is ideally positioned to address

the RJs achieved. The strategy director such a trend this market, not just in terms of size, but
Daniel Galhardo, director of strategy, is under way for Embraer aircraft with also with regards to its unique product

Embraer Commercial Aviation, Nigeria’s Air Peace having firm orders for characteristics,” Houari claims.

acknowledges that although in terms of 13 new E195-E2s, deliveries of have already “It offers true single-aisle comfort as

new aircraft sale numbers, regional jets did begun, as well as four firm orders from well as the highest baggage and cargo

World Airnews | May 2021
— 18 —