Africa Aviation MRO Market Size
| Study Period | 2019-2029 |
| Base Year For Estimation | 2023 |
| Market Size (2024) | USD 1.54 Billion |
| Market Size (2029) | USD 1.94 Billion |
| CAGR (2024 - 2029) | 4.79 % |
| Market Concentration | Low |
Major Players
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order |
Africa Aviation MRO Market Analysis
The Africa Aviation MRO Market size is estimated at USD 1.54 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 1.94 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 4.79% during the forecast period (2024-2029).
- Aircraft operators in Africa have some of the oldest airline fleets in the world. In addition, with the current situation of the aviation industry in Africa, operators will have to operate their current fleets for some more years due to a lack of economic reserves to purchase new aircraft and modernize and expand their fleets. This is expected to increase the demand for MRO activities in the region during the forecast period.
- Dwindling profit margins and maintenance costs have become a very significant expense for the operators in the region. Only a few African airlines, such as Kenya Airways, South Africa, Egypt Air, and Ethiopian Airlines, have well-established in-house maintenance facilities, and many other airlines are sending their fleet outside the continent for major maintenance activities. Thus, the growing number of investments by various companies in the African region will provide a boost to the aviation MRO services in Africa and will drive the growth of the market during the forecast period.
- Africa needs to be at par with the global aviation industry. It has the fewest annual seats in the commercial sector, the smallest fleet of commercial and generation aviation aircraft, and the lowest number of aircraft on order in the world. The aviation sector in the region also faces several challenges that create a uniquely tough operating environment, including weak aviation infrastructure, high ticket prices, poor connectivity, and lack of liberalization and an integrated intra-African network.
Africa Aviation MRO Market Trends
Fixed-Wing Aircraft to Witness Highest Growth During the Forecast Period
- The growth is attributed to the rising aircraft deliveries and increasing expenditure on the aviation sector across the region. The average age of the fixed-wing aircraft fleet in Africa is over 15.5 years, implying a significant need and potential for fleet modernization and aviation infrastructure development in the region. Several countries in the region have adopted fleet migration programs that enables them to procure used aircraft from other regions at discounted prices and entail the re-sale of used aircraft from neighboring regions to increase their active fleet. It is estimated that around 75% of the fleet growth in the region by 2025 will be a direct result of migrations.
- Similarly, in the military aviation sector, the lack of economic stability has led to the countries resorting to procuring used aircraft from partner countries in Europe. For instance, in September 2022, Saab AB signed a support contract for the service, maintenance, and repair of the South African Air Force (SAAF) Gripen C/D fighter jets. The value of the contract was USD 30 million for three years. As per the CAPA Fleet Database, Africa’s current commercial aircraft fleet consists of 1,700 aircraft and the outstanding order book of all African airlines combined is around 257 aircraft. Ethiopian Airlines has the largest order book, and although Green Africa Airways has not yet started operating, it has the second largest order book with almost as many orders as Ethiopian Airlines. On a similar note, in February 2020, Green Africa announced placing an additional order for 50 A220-300 aircraft while also committing to lease three aircraft from GTLK Europe. Thus, the growing procurement of commercial and military aircraft and increasing spending on the modernization of the aging aircraft fleet propels the market growth.
Egypt to Dominate the Market Share During the Forecast Period
- The growing airline industry in Egypt is generating significant demand for MRO services. The Middle East is the largest market for passenger flows to and from Egypt, followed by Europe and Africa. The country's geographic location has also helped it emerge as a major aviation MRO hub in Africa, with several foreign MRO players having facilities in Egypt.
- EGYPTAIR and Nile Air are the most prominent airlines in Egypt. EgyptAir is the state-owned flag carrier of Egypt, while Nile Air is the largest private airline in Egypt and is a full-service carrier that operates scheduled services. As of June 2023, the EGYPTAIR mainline fleet comprised 75 aircraft with three A321neos aircraft on order. Similarly, Nile Air operates 6 aircraft, including four A320s and two A321s.
- In December 2023, Safran Aircraft Engines and the Egyptian Air Force announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the company's new EngineLife services solution. According to the terms of the agreement, this MoU will cover through-life support (TLS) for the M88 engines powering Egypt's current fleet of 24 Rafale on a by-the-hour basis with guaranteed levels of availability.
- Thus, the ongoing fleet modernization and expansion plans undertaken by the defense and commercial operators in the country are anticipated to drive the demand for MRO services in the country, thereby driving the market in focus during the forecast period.
Africa Aviation MRO Industry Overview
The African aviation MRO market is fragmented, with the presence of many local and foreign MRO providers offering various types of services to aircraft operators in the region. RTX Corporation, Safran SA, Lufthansa Technik AG, Leonardo S.p.A., and Airbus SE are some of the prominent players in the market.
Over the last few years, there has been an increase in investments by foreign players aiming to increase their geographic footprint in Africa. Several local players are partnering with OEMs to gain technical expertise and the MRO certification required to perform on-site MRO services. With the increasingly competitive environment in the MRO sector, the local players are enhancing the efficiency of their MRO processes. The market opportunities of the MRO sector in Africa and the growing investments of players are expected to rapidly increase the competition in the market in the coming years.
Africa Aviation MRO Market Leaders
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Safran SA
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Leonardo S.p.A.
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Airbus SE
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RTX Corporation
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Lufthansa Technik AG
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
Africa Aviation MRO Market News
- May 2023: ExecuJet MRO Services, the business aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) organization in Africa, was appointed as the authorized service center (ASC) for Embraer business jets across the region. The partnership signifies a significant expansion of Embraer’s service network in the region and reinforces ExecuJet’s position as a trusted and reliable MRO provider.
- January 2023: RwandAir signed a multi-year contract with Iberia Maintenance to maintain the CFM56-7B and 7BE engines that powered its Boeing 737 fleet. The partnership between RwandAir and Iberia Maintenance will help the RwandAir airline to maintain its fleet in top condition and ensure that it continues to provide safe and reliable service to its customers.
Africa Aviation MRO Market Report - Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
- 1.1 Study Assumptions
- 1.2 Scope of the Study
2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
4. MARKET DYNAMICS
- 4.1 Market Overview
- 4.2 Market Drivers
- 4.3 Market Restraints
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4.4 Porter's Five Forces Analysis
- 4.4.1 Threat of New Entrants
- 4.4.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers/Consumers
- 4.4.3 Bargaining Power of Suppliers
- 4.4.4 Threat of Substitute Products
- 4.4.5 Intensity of Competitive Rivalry
5. MARKET SEGMENTATION
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5.1 MRO Type
- 5.1.1 Engine MRO
- 5.1.2 Components and Modifications MRO
- 5.1.3 Interior MRO
- 5.1.4 Airframe MRO
- 5.1.5 Field Maintenance
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5.2 Aircraft Type
- 5.2.1 Fixed-Wing Aircraft
- 5.2.2 Rotorcraft
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5.3 Aviation Type
- 5.3.1 Commercial Aviation
- 5.3.2 Military Aviation
- 5.3.3 General Aviation
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5.4 Geography
- 5.4.1 Nigeria
- 5.4.2 Ethiopia
- 5.4.3 Egypt
- 5.4.4 South Africa
- 5.4.5 Kenya
- 5.4.6 Algeria
- 5.4.7 Democratic Republic of Congo
- 5.4.8 Ghana
- 5.4.9 Rest of Africa
6. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
- 6.1 Vendor Market Share
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6.2 Company Profiles
- 6.2.1 Saab AB
- 6.2.2 Leonardo S.p.A.
- 6.2.3 Dassault Aviation SA
- 6.2.4 Pilatus Aircraft Ltd.
- 6.2.5 Rostec
- 6.2.6 Airbus SE
- 6.2.7 RTX Corporation
- 6.2.8 Safran SA
- 6.2.9 Lufthansa Technik AG
- 6.2.10 Ethiopian Airlines
- 6.2.11 Egyptair Maintenance & Engineering
- 6.2.12 South African Airways Technical (SAAT)
- 6.2.13 Aero Contractors Company of Nigeria
- 6.2.14 Sabena technics S.A.
- 6.2.15 Denel SOC Ltd.
- *List Not Exhaustive
7. MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE TRENDS
** Subject To AvailablityAfrica Aviation MRO Industry Segmentation
Aircraft MRO refers to the scheduled and unscheduled maintenance procedures required to ensure the airworthiness of an aircraft and its parts. MRO service providers perform overhaul, inspection, replacement, defect rectification, and the embodiment of modifications in compliance with airworthiness directives and repair. The scope of the study includes the MRO of all military aircraft, including helicopters in active service in various combat and non-combat mission roles in Africa.
The African aviation MRO market is segmented based on MRO type, aircraft type, aviation type, and geography. By MRO type, the market is segmented into engine MRO, components and modifications MRO, interior MRO, airframe MRO, and field maintenance. By aircraft type, the market is segmented into fixed-wing aircraft and rotorcraft. By aviation type, the market is segmented into commercial aviation, military aviation, and general aviation. The report also covers the market sizes and forecasts in major countries across the African region.
For each segment, the market sizing and forecasts are provided in terms of value (USD).
| MRO Type | Engine MRO |
| Components and Modifications MRO | |
| Interior MRO | |
| Airframe MRO | |
| Field Maintenance | |
| Aircraft Type | Fixed-Wing Aircraft |
| Rotorcraft | |
| Aviation Type | Commercial Aviation |
| Military Aviation | |
| General Aviation | |
| Geography | Nigeria |
| Ethiopia | |
| Egypt | |
| South Africa | |
| Kenya | |
| Algeria | |
| Democratic Republic of Congo | |
| Ghana | |
| Rest of Africa |
Africa Aviation MRO Market Research FAQs
How big is the Africa Aviation MRO Market?
The Africa Aviation MRO Market size is expected to reach USD 1.54 billion in 2024 and grow at a CAGR of 4.79% to reach USD 1.94 billion by 2029.
What is the current Africa Aviation MRO Market size?
In 2024, the Africa Aviation MRO Market size is expected to reach USD 1.54 billion.
Who are the key players in Africa Aviation MRO Market?
Safran SA, Leonardo S.p.A., Airbus SE, RTX Corporation and Lufthansa Technik AG are the major companies operating in the Africa Aviation MRO Market.
What years does this Africa Aviation MRO Market cover, and what was the market size in 2023?
In 2023, the Africa Aviation MRO Market size was estimated at USD 1.47 billion. The report covers the Africa Aviation MRO Market historical market size for years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. The report also forecasts the Africa Aviation MRO Market size for years: 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029.
Africa Aviation MRO Industry Report
Statistics for the 2024 Africa Aviation MRO market share, size and revenue growth rate, created by Mordor Intelligence™ Industry Reports. Africa Aviation MRO analysis includes a market forecast outlook to 2029 and historical overview. Get a sample of this industry analysis as a free report PDF download.
