While there are many quality airlines in Africa, a lot of them are national carriers and serve only their local region. But in some cases, like that of Nigeria, airlines come and go almost as quickly as they take off, and safety throughout the continent is shaky--Africa is home to the majority of airlines listed in the European Union's \"List of Unsafe Airlines.\" Here are three of the most reliable and highly rated airlines in Africa.
Kenya's national carrier, Kenya Airways, flies daily to and from London as well as several other European cities. The airline also serves several African countries such as Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Nigeria. Voted East Africa’s most respected company in 2005, Kenya Air was Africa's sixth largest carrier by 2010, with 26 planes, 43 destinations and 2.6 million passengers annually. It is exceeded on the continent only by South African Airways and carriers operating out of North Africa.
Kenya Airways
101 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 350
Chicago, IL 60606
1 (866) 536-9224
kenya-airways.com
Royal Air Maroc flies daily to and from several European destinations and is one of the few African airlines with direct flights to the United States, traveling between New York and Casablanca. Most of their regional flights transit between Northern and Western Africa. The leading airline in Morocco and North Africa, Royal Air Maroc operates a fleet of 44 aircraft. As of January 2010, the airline carried nearly six million passengers per year on over 1,200 flights per week, reaching 67 destinations in 35 countries. Casablanca, Royal Air Maroc's home port, is the largest airport hub in Western Africa and more than 12 million passengers pass through annually.
Royal Air Maroc
666 5th Avenue
New York, NY? 10019
1 (800) 344-6726
royalairmaroc.com
Flag carrier South African Airways serves more than 700 destinations throughout the world and flies more than 20 domestic routes, with 20 flights a day between Johannesburg and Cape Town as of January 2010. South African Airways is Africa's largest airline with competitive global service and a regional network that extends throughout Southern, Western and East Africa. Their fleet is made up of 52 airliners that carry 7.54 million passengers annually. South African Airways also offers budgeted airfare online and is a Star Alliance member.
515 East Las Olas Blvd
Suite 1600
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
(954) 769-5000
flysaa.com
