The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported that $1.3 billion in airline funds are blocked from repatriation by governments as of the end of April 2025. This is a significant amount, although it represents an improvement of 25% compared with the $1.7 billion reported in October 2024.
IATA urged governments to remove all barriers preventing airlines from the timely repatriation of their revenues from ticket sales and other activities in accordance with international agreements and treaty obligations.
“Ensuring the timely repatriation of revenues is vital for airlines to cover dollar-denominated expenses and maintain their operations. Delays and denials violate bilateral agreements and increase exchange rate risks. Reliable access to revenues is critical for any business—particularly airlines which operate on very thin margins. Economies and jobs rely on international connectivity. Governments must realise that it is a challenge for airlines to maintain connectivity when revenue repatriation is denied or delayed,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
10 countries are responsible for 80% of blocked funds
Ten countries account for 80% of the total blocked funds, amounting to $1.03 billion.
| Country | Amount (USD Million) |
| Mozambique | 205 |
| XAF Zone* | 191 |
| Algeria | 178 |
| Lebanon | 142 |
| Bangladesh | 92 |
| Angola | 84 |
| Pakistan | 83 |
| Eritrea | 76 |
| Zimbabwe | 68 |
| Ethiopia | 44 |
*XAF Zone: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon
Country Highlights
Pakistan and Bangladesh, previously among the top five blocked funds countries, have made notable progress in clearing their backlogs to $83 million and $92 million, respectively (from $311 million and $196 million in October 2024).
Mozambique has climbed to the top of the blocked funds list, withholding $205 million from airlines, compared with $127 million in October 2024. The Africa and Middle East (AME) region accounts for 85% of total blocked funds, at $1.1 billion as of the end of April 2025.
The most significant improvement was noted in Bolivia, which fully cleared its backlog that stood at $42 million at the end of October 2024.
