Africa's Big 7

EgyptAir

EgyptAir, the Pharaoh-nation's official carrier, reaches more than 75 destinations in Africa, the Middle East, the Americas, Europe, and Asia. The airline is working to regain profitability following the 2011 revolution.

Royal Air Maroc

Royal Air Maroc is the Moroccan national carrier and the country’s largest airline. It’s based at Casablanca-Anfa Airport and is the the only African airline that continued connecting Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia during the Ebola outbreak.

Kenya Airways

Founded in 1977 after East African Airways ceased, Kenya Airways is based in Nairobi at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Privatised in 1996, it was the first African flag carrier to successfully do so. The third-largest airline in sub-Saharan Africa, it’s majority owned by the government of Kenya and Air-France KLM.

Air Algerie

Owned by the government of Algeria, Air Algérie has international service to about 40 destinations including Beijing and Montreal. The airline is a member of the International Air Transport Association, the Arab Air Carriers Organization, and the African Airlines Association since 1968.

Air Mauritius

Air Mauritius has been voted the No. 1 airline in the Indian Ocean at the World Travel Awards for the last last nine years and was recently awarded a prestigious 4-STAR Skytrax rating. Headquartered at Port Louis, Mauritius, this is the flag carrier of Mauritius with its main hub at the Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport.

Ethiopian Airlines

One of the fastest-growing airlines and among the largest on the African continent, Ethiopian Airlines flies to more destinations in Africa than any other carrier and it was the first to have a Boeing 787 in Africa. This airline is owned by the country’s government. Established in 1946, it expanded to international flights in 1951. It serves a network of more than 80 passenger destinations.

South African Airways (SAA)

The largest of South Africa’s airlines, South African Airways flies to 38 destinations worldwide from its hub at O.R. Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg. It’s a forerunner airline on the African continent and one that has succeeded in bringing Africa to the world.