IATA Calls on Governments to Remove Barriers for Airlines Repatriating Revenues

Dark/Light Mode (08/12/22)  IATA has announced that the amount of airline funds for repatriation being blocked by governments has risen by more than 25% ($394 million) in the last six months.

With the total amount of funds being blocked now at close to $2 billion, IATA has called on governments to remove all barriers for airlines repatriating their revenues from ticket sales and other activities, in line with international agreements and treaty obligations.

IATA is also renewing its calls on Venezuela to settle the $3.8 billion of airline funds that have been blocked from repatriation since 2016 when the last authorization for limited repatriation of funds was allowed by the Venezuelan government.

Aircraft flying overhead. Picture by Steven Howard of TravelNewsAsia.com

“Preventing airlines from repatriating funds may appear to be an easy way to shore up depleted treasuries, but ultimately the local economy will pay a high price,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. “No business can sustain providing service if they cannot get paid and this is no different for airlines. Air links are a vital economic catalyst. Enabling the efficient repatriation of revenues is a critical for any economy to remain globally connected to markets and supply chains.”

Airline funds are currently being blocked from repatriation in more than 27 countries and territories.

The top five markets with blocked funds (excluding Venezuela) are: Nigeria: $551 million; Pakistan: $225 million; Bangladesh: $208 million; Lebanon: $144 million; and Algeria: $140 million.

Nigeria

Total airline funds blocked from repatriation in Nigeria currently amount to $551 million.

Repatriation issues arose in March 2020 when demand for foreign currency in the country outpaced supply and the country’s banks were not able to service currency repatriations.

Despite these challenges Nigerian authorities have been engaged with the airlines and are, together with the industry, working to find measures to release the funds available.

Kamil Al-Awadhi as Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, said, “Nigeria is an example of how government-industry engagement can resolve blocked funds issues. Working with the Nigerian House of Representatives, Central Bank and the Minister of Aviation resulted in the release of $120 million for repatriation with the promise of a further release at the end of 2022. This encouraging progress demonstrates that, even in difficult circumstances, solutions can be found to clear blocked funds and ensure vital connectivity.”

Venezuela

While airlines have also restarted efforts to recover the $3.8 billion of unrepatriated airline revenues in Venezuela, there have been no approvals of repatriation of the funds since early 2016 and connectivity to Venezuela has dwindled to a handful of airlines selling tickets primarily outside the country. In fact, between 2016 and 2019 (the last normal year before COVID19) connectivity to/from Venezuela plummeted by 62%.

Venezuela is now looking to bolster tourism as part of its COVID19 economic recovery plan and is seeking airlines to restart or expand air services to/from Venezuela.

Success will, of course, be much more likely if Venezuela is able to instill confidence in the market by expeditiously settling past debts and providing concrete assurances that airlines will not face any blockages to future repatriation of funds.

Latest exclusive video interviews: Future of Air Travel - Interview with Sumesh Patel, President of SITA Asia Pacific; Miss International Queen 2024 (MIQ 2024) - Interview with Alisa Phanthusak, MD, Tiffany's Show Pattaya, Thailand; 16 HD Video Interviews from Routes Europe 2024 in Aarhus, Denmark; 9 HD Video Interviews from Routes Asia 2024 in Langkawi, Malaysia; Standard to Open Residences in Hua Hin and Phuket, Thailand; Video Interview with Amar Lalvani, Executive Chairman; 9 Exclusive Video Interviews from ASEAN Tourism Forum 2024 in Vientiane, Laos; 8 NTO Press Conferences from ASEAN Tourism Forum 2024 in Vientiane, Laos; 13 HD Video Interviews from World Travel Market 2023 in London, England; 5 HD Video Interviews from APG World Connect 2023 in Monaco, France; and 15 HD Video Interviews from Routes World 2023 in Istanbul, Türkiye.