KIGALI, Rwanda—Africa’s MRO industry is reaching an inflection point where rapid fleet and passenger growth are creating unsustainable dependency on overseas maintenance services, but the environment is ripe for significant domestic investment and development opportunities, an industry stakeholder said at Aviation Africa 2025.
“The dependency of the past is unsustainable,” said Cedric Carsalade, Head of Business Strategy and Sustainability at Airbus Consulting, speaking in Kigali. “The opportunity of the future is undeniable, and the question is who can build local capacity and how. This requires vision and investment.”
According to Airbus figures, Carsalade projects Africa’s passenger traffic to double by 2044 while the continent’s fleet is expected to treble in size by 2044 with projected deliveries of around 1,500 aircraft—comprised of roughly 1,200 narrowbodies and 300 widebodies—during that period set to drive down the region’s average fleet age. “This is influencing the type of aircraft being ordered and the nature of MRO services required,” he said. “The modernization and expansion of Africa’s fleet creates a pressing need for corresponding growth in MRO services.”
Carsalade projects a $5 billion MRO market value in Africa by 2044 and says to meet growth, Africa will need to add to its existing MRO footprint. He estimates that between 80% to 90% of MRO budget related to African carrier maintenance is spent with overseas providers. “Opportunities lie in establishing specialized maintenance centers for engine, airframe and component maintenance which can help address the current challenges,” he said of the investment requirement. “This is not just an economic issue but a critical operational one. Over dependence means that African airlines face longer turnaround times and the cost of ferry flights from Africa to Europe and the Middle East.”
In addition to the continent’s infrastructure and investment deficit, critical skills shortages were also cited as a major challenge facing Africa. With additional maintenance man hours needed from now to 2044 to help meet forecasted demand, Carsalade says more than 21,000 MRO technicians will be needed in Africa during that period. A fragmented regulatory environment and supply chain and logistics hurdles were also cited as existing challenges.
Airbus has sought to grow its aftermarket footprint in Africa in recent years. Last year, it signed a memorandum of understanding with EgyptAir Maintenance & Engineering, for the Cairo-based MRO to become a qualified airframe maintenance supplier for Airbus-manufactured aircraft.
This year, Airbus opened a new maintenance customer support center in Johannesburg. The center, announced in July by the OEM, will provide technical assistance, engineering and maintenance solutions, fleet performance analysis, training services, and on-site customer support for all Airbus commercial aircraft platforms.
Related Content
