Just two,- Kenya Airways and Ethiopian. Both have good quality, modern fleets, excellent punctuality, extensive networks throughout sub saharan Africa and to Europe and Far East and high service standards. Addis Airport's new terminal makes an excellent hub while Nairobi's facilities ( and passenger information display systems) need substantial upgrading. Work is due to begin on this shortly and will take up to 2 years.
Frequencies between city pairs have improved substantially over the past 5 years or so, but even between Nairobi and Lagos bilateral constraints , which are meant to have been swept away , limit KQ to 5 x weekly, with no reciprocal service yet by a Nigerian carrier. Protectionism still gets in the way and inhibits growth and a number of potential sectors and frequencies are flown by foreign carriers but "blinded"-ie lack local traffic rights.
SAA appear to have had serious difficulties in making their investment in Air Tanzania work and Uganda , despite its excellent geographical position still lacks a substantial passenger carrier. Air Malawi continues to go nowhere and is too small on its own while Air Zim suffers from being where it is and Zambia has never had a successful substantial replacement for the defunct Zambia Airways. Regional mergers are essential to make the smaller carriers viable, but political rivalries are roadblocks.