Nigeria is one of the least connected countries in the world by air travel, the Vice President, Commercial Sales and Marketing for Boeing aircraft, Anbessie Yitbarek, has revealed.

Yitbarek observed that despite the geographical location of the country, its huge population and one of the largest economies in Africa, the country remained largely unconnected by air, even within the continent.

Yitbarek stated this yesterday, in a virtual interaction with The Guardian. He emphasised that this lack of connectivity within Africa, with Nigeria as one of the most affected, was hurting the continent’s intra-African travel, which remained expensive and fragmented.

According to Yitbarek, flights from Lagos to Luanda, for instance, only operate twice weekly, while the 45-minute flight from Lagos to Douala could take over seven hours due to poor connectivity.

He also expressed that Accra to Dakar till present, had no non-stop flight service, while there are no direct flight services between Johannesburg and Abidjan.

The Boeing boss stated that this disconnection was also having a huge toll on African trade, which remained at 15 per cent, compared to over 60 per cent in Europe.

He added: “Africa is often described in grand terms—its scale, potential, youthful demographics, and future as a global growth engine. But when it comes to aviation, the reality on the ground does not match the rhetoric.

“More than 30 million kilometres in size, the continent remains one of the least connected by air, and Nigeria, the continent’s most populous country and one of its largest economies, sits at the centre of this paradox. Intra-African travel remains expensive and fragmented. Flights from Lagos to Luanda operate only twice a week.

“Accra to Dakar, surprisingly, today has no nonstop service, and the 45-minute flight from Lagos to Douala can take over seven hours due to poor connectivity. And there is still no direct flight between Johannesburg and Abidjan. So many city pairs that make obvious sense remain unlinked.”

Yitbarek, quoting statistics supplied by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), said that everyone per cent increase in air connectivity could drive a 0.5 per cent increase in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), noting that the continent could not afford to ignore such growth.

He, however, declared that connecting fragmented markets did not require massive long-haul jets, rather modern, efficient aeroplanes optimised for short-to-medium-haul distances that could fly frequently and affordably, navigating hot and high as well as humid environments found across Africa.

He argued that Boeing’s single-aisle 737 MAX family of jets, with a range of over 7,000 km and seating flexibility between 130 and 230 passengers, was best suited to connect the continent.

The Boeing boss pointed out that the aircraft could adapt – precisely what the region needed – versatility, fuel efficiency, and reliability in harsh environments, adding that it was ideal for unlocking transcontinental city pairings without transiting via Europe or the Middle East.

He maintained that Africa did not need to replicate Europe’s hub-and-spoke legacy or the Gulf’s mega-connector strategy, stressing that it could leapfrog those models with decentralised, point-to-point networks linking fast-growing cities.

He added: “With more than 6,200 delivered worldwide, the 737 MAX is more than just a jet—it’s a bridge builder, market opener, enabling Africa’s connected future with its distinctive dual-feathered winglets perfectly shaped for the distances and ambitions that lie ahead.

“As Nigeria’s e-commerce and agribusiness sectors scale up, demand for regional cargo services and a more robust cold supply chain is growing. Converted 737 MAX freighter variants can carry over 23 tonnes of cargo—perfect for perishables, high-value goods, and express parcels.

“Imagine Lagos serving as a regional hub for perishables to Libreville, pharma to Kinshasa, or electronics to Cotonou—direct, fast, and reliable, without routing through Dubai or Brussels.”