The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reports that USD 1.2 billion in airline funds remained blocked from repatriation by governments as of October 2025, despite a modest USD 100 million improvement since April. The situation continues to be concentrated overwhelmingly in Africa and the Middle East, where 93 percent of all trapped funds are located.
Airlines are unable to access revenues generated through ticket sales, cargo, and related activities due to foreign-exchange shortages, complex approval procedures, and other government-imposed repatriation restrictions. IATA reiterated that these practices violate bilateral air service agreements, which guarantee free transfer of earnings.
IATA Director General Willie Walsh urged governments to prioritise currency allocation for airlines, noting that carriers rely on access to U.S. dollar revenues to cover operational and dollar-denominated costs. “Governments have committed to unfettered repatriation of funds. With low margins and high dollar-denominated costs, airlines depend on governments fulfilling that commitment,” he said.
Ten countries account for 89% of blocked funds
A small group of countries is responsible for the bulk of the crisis, collectively withholding USD 1.08 billion. Algeria leads the list for the first time—its total ballooning due to a new approval requirement from the Ministry of Trade—followed by the XAF Zone and Lebanon.
Blocked airline funds (USD millions):
• Algeria: 307
• XAF Zone*: 179
• Lebanon: 138
• Mozambique: 91
• Angola: 81
• Eritrea: 78
• Zimbabwe: 67
• Ethiopia: 54
• Pakistan: 54
• Bangladesh: 32
*Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon.
IATA is calling on authorities in these markets to streamline repatriation processes. In the XAF Zone, blocked funds have decreased slightly from April’s 191 million, but IATA notes that airlines still face significant delays due to the central bank’s three-stage validation process.
Political and economic instability exacerbate the issue
Across Africa and the Middle East, foreign-exchange shortages and policy uncertainty continue to drive restrictive currency practices. Walsh emphasised that while FX allocation decisions are difficult, easing repatriation would ultimately support investment, job creation, and long-term economic activity tied to air connectivity.
Increased transparency
To keep pressure on governments and inform stakeholders, IATA has launched a dedicated webpage providing quarterly updates on the status of blocked funds, background information, and key developments.