Algeria Tops Global List of Countries Holding Airlines’ Trapped Funds — IATA Confirms Nigeria Cleared

Algeria now accounts for the largest share of blocked airline funds worldwide, withholding $302 million out of the $1.2 billion still trapped across several countries, according to new data released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Nigeria — once one of the countries with the highest volumes of withheld airline revenues — is notably absent from the latest list after successfully clearing 98% of outstanding blocked funds in 2024.

Other countries currently holding significant airline revenues include Lebanon ($138 million), Mozambique ($91 million), Angola ($81 million), Zimbabwe ($67 million), and Ethiopia ($54 million).

IATA noted that 93% of all trapped airline funds globally are concentrated in Africa and the Middle East, calling on governments to remove all barriers preventing carriers from repatriating proceeds from ticket sales, cargo operations and related activities — rights protected under bilateral air service agreements.

IATA’s Director General, Willie Walsh, emphasized that airlines depend on timely access to their revenue to continue operating smoothly.

“Airlines need reliable access to their revenues in U.S. dollars to keep operations running, pay their bills, and maintain vital air connectivity,” Walsh said.

“Governments have committed to unfettered repatriation of funds in bilateral agreements… We urge governments to facilitate the efficient repatriation of airline funds and prioritize this in foreign exchange allocations, even when currency is in short supply.”

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Walsh added that enabling airlines to access their earnings also benefits governments, as aviation drives trade, tourism and overall economic growth.

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