Increased demand in Nigeria’s aerospace industry creating new opportunities for young people, says Airbus

As Nigeria and indeed Africa’s aerospace industry grows and becomes more dynamic, increasing demand for specialised skills is creating thousands of new opportunities for young people on the continent.

Already, an estimated 7.7 million direct and indirect jobs have been created by the industry in Africa. Airbus predicts that a further 17,000 technicians, 14,000 pilots, and 23,000 cabin crew positions will be required across Africa in the next 20 years.

European giant aircraft manufacturing company, Airbus has predicted that the demand for new aircraft by the Nigerian airline operators will triple the present aircraft fleet by 2042.

Speaking at the media briefing held ahead of the 7th Aviation Africa Summit and Exhibition opening at the Abuja International Convention Centre, Airbus while unveiling its market forecast for Nigeria equally forecast that the country’s aviation sector will record a soar between now and the year 2042.

Speaking at the event, the airline marketing director, Africa at Airbus, Mr. Joel Ellers who described the Air frat manufacturing company as home to two of the world’s fastest-growing cities in the shape of Lagos and Abuja, also predicted that airlines serving Nigeria will require nearly 160 passenger and freight aircraft by 2042, according to the 2023 Airbus Global Market Forecast (GMF).

“This includes 131 single-aisle aircraft such as the A220, A320 families, and 28 widebody aircraft such as the A330 and A350 families serving the Nigerian market in the next two decades.”

The Airbus director acknowledged that aviation plays a pivotal role in driving economic development across the African continent through creating jobs and facilitating domestic, intra-African, and global trade and regional integration, with its significance particularly profound in the case of Nigeria.

His words: “Africa’s most populous country, marked by substantial landmass, a vibrant, dynamic and ever-expanding economy. The aviation industry in Nigeria possesses the potential to emerge as the connective tissue that binds together its diverse regions and fuels economic progress.”

The aircraft giant also predicted the aviation sector growth on the continent will drive average yearly service demand up by 4.1%, from $2 billion to $7 billion. Growing Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services at both local and regional levels according to the firm are central to the sector’s growth, safety, and longevity.

“Regional cooperation and cross-country licensing are important in ensuring that talent is retained, while government and private sector partnerships and training academies are essential in creating a pipeline of talent for a robust and sustainable aerospace industry in Africa.

“In the wider African continent, Airbus predicts that 1180 new aircraft will be needed for the continent by 2042, made up of 295 wide-body and 885 single-aisle aircraft. During this period, the fleet in the region will transition to new generation types such as the A220, A320neo family, A330neo, and A350 bringing significant efficiency improvement and a corresponding reduction in carbon emissions per passenger.

“Over the past 10+ years, significant improvements to the industry have been made across the continent, including the creation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) as well as the modernisation of fleets by national airlines.

“There are currently 265 Airbus commercial jetliners flying with 36 operators in Africa. Today African carriers such as Ethiopian Airlines, Ibom Air, Air Senegal, South African Airways, Air Côte d’Ivoire, EgyptAir, Uganda Airlines, and Air Tanzania, have chosen to operate some of the most technologically advanced aircraft such as the A350, A330neo, A320neo and the A220.”

Wole Shadare