The continent accounts for just 2.85 percent of global passenger traffic and 2 percent of global airport income, even though it is the second-largest by land mass and the second-most populous, according to the aviation industry consultancy－the Center for Asia Pacific Aviation.

The Chinese civil aircraft fleet in Africa is mainly composed of the Y-12 turboprop utility plane built by AVIC Harbin Aircraft Industry Group and the MA-60 turboprop airliner made by AVIC Xi'an Aircraft Industry Group. At least 10 African nations currently operate Chinese civil aircraft, according to the company's statistics.

But the biggest issue for African customers remains a shortage of qualified support personnel and spare parts, simply caused by the absence of local support facilities, which Zhang said was now holding back the use and expansion of Chinese aircraft numbers there.