The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has urged African governments to treat aviation as a strategic pillar of economic growth, warning that delayed repatriation of airline revenues is undermining connectivity across the continent. African countries accounted for the largest share of global blocked airline funds, with a total of USD 774 million trapped as of end-March 2026, according to IATA.
Speaking at the IATA Focus Africa conference in Addis Ababa, Kamil Alawadhi, IATA’s Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, said aviation should be viewed as “economic infrastructure” that supports jobs, trade, tourism and regional integration. He argued that long-term prosperity from a competitive aviation sector would deliver broader development benefits than taxes collected from travelers.
IATA said governments’ failure to allow airlines to repatriate earnings in line with bilateral and international obligations has left funds blocked across several African markets. Algeria was cited as the country with the highest amount of blocked funds at USD 258 million, followed by the XAF Zone at USD 105 million, Mozambique at USD 82 million, Eritrea at USD 78 million and Angola at USD 73 million.
Alawadhi said the scale of blocked funds in Algeria required urgent government action, adding that engagement with the Ministry of Trade and Export Promotion and the Central Bank had produced little response. He warned that continued delays in releasing airline revenues could damage connectivity if governments do not work with the industry to find a sustainable solution.
Beyond blocked funds, IATA called on African governments to strengthen aviation safety, reduce the cost of doing business, ease visa restrictions and support sustainability measures. The group said Africa’s accident rate improved from 12.13 to 7.86 per million sectors between 2024 and 2025, but remained above the global average of 1.32.
IATA also said the cost of doing aviation business in Africa remains high, with taxes and charges around 15% above the global average. It called for an end to rising API-PNR charges, faster implementation of the ECOWAS decision to eliminate aviation taxes and reduce select charges, and continued use of residence-based corporate taxation for airlines.
On sustainability, IATA said Africa could benefit from producing sustainable aviation fuel and supplying eligible emission units for the global CORSIA offsetting scheme. It estimated that sub-Saharan Africa could supply up to 106 million tonnes of SAF-suitable feedstock by 2050, creating jobs and trengthening energy security if supported by predictable policies and investment.
The association also said nearly half of intra-African travel still requires visas before departure, limiting mobility, tourism and economic integration. It argued that easing visa restrictions has already shown benefits in countries that have adopted more open travel policies.
The remarks came during the 2026 edition of the IATA Focus Africa conference, held in Addis Ababa on April 29-30 under the theme “Elevating Aviation Safety, Connectivity, and Operational Efficiency in Africa.” IATA said the event was hosted by Ethiopian Airlines and brought together policymakers, regulators and industry leaders.IATA represents about 360 airlines and more than 80% of global air traffic.
