✈️ Lagos DNMM Plunges by 228 Movements in March, West Africa's Main Hub Under Pressure in First Five Months
Lagos DNMM, West Africa's leading business aviation hub, experienced an unusual cliff-like drop in a single month in 2026. Avi-Go data shows that in March 2026, DNMM recorded only 228 movements, a sharp decline from 905 during the same period in 2025. Although April quickly rebounded to a peak of 1,075 movements, the cumulative total of approximately 3,746 movements from January to May still fell short of the 4,528 recorded during the same period in 2025, a year-on-year decline of about 17%, with the low March figure being the primary drag. In contrast, the East African hub of Nairobi HKJK recorded approximately 533 movements from January to May, driven by 186 movements in May (compared to 109 during the same period in 2025), representing a year-on-year increase of about 13%.
Impact: The abnormal single-month fluctuation at Lagos in March amplified the year-on-year decline in the first half. For FBOs and ground service operators relying on this hub, capacity planning and cash flow stability face challenges; the diverging trends between East and West Africa also indicate that the regional competitive landscape is being reshaped.
Recommendation: It is advised that operators and FBOs review the causes of the March anomaly before the end of June 2026, distinguishing one-off disruptions from structural shifts in demand. Starting in July, in alignment with the AfBAA hub indicator framework, they should track DNMM's arrival and departure structure and year-on-year trends on a monthly basis, and assess opportunities for resource reallocation in the growing East African HKJK market.