The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reported that $1.3 billion in airline funds remain blocked by governments, preventing repatriation as of the end of April 2025. Notably, Nigeria is not on the list.
While this represents a substantial sum, it marks a 25% improvement compared to the $1.7 billion reported in October 2024.
For the past two years, Nigeria has maintained a clean record, as the country is no longer among those withholding foreign carriers’ funds.
In 2024, IATA confirmed that Nigeria had resolved all trapped fund issues. Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director-General, acknowledged the significant progress made in Nigeria, noting that at its peak in June 2023, blocked funds in the country had reached $850 million. This severely impacted airline operations and finances, but the majority of these funds have since been repatriated by the airlines.
IATA has called on governments to eliminate all barriers preventing airlines from repatriating their revenues from ticket sales and other activities in line with international agreements and treaty obligations.
“Ensuring the timely repatriation of revenues is essential for airlines to cover dollar-denominated expenses and sustain operations. Delays and denials breach bilateral agreements and heighten exchange rate risks,” said Walsh.
“Reliable access to revenues is crucial for any business—especially airlines, which operate on razor-thin margins. Economies and jobs depend on international connectivity. Governments must recognise that denying or delaying revenue repatriation makes it incredibly difficult for airlines to maintain connectivity,” he added.