Payments infrastructure company Kora has joined the International Air Transport Association Financial Gateway, a move that is expected to make it easier for airlines and travel agencies to accept payments across Africa through a single integration.
The partnership allows international airlines and travel agencies connected to the IFG platform to process payments using Kora’s payment infrastructure. This includes support for card payments, bank transfers, mobile money services and other local payment methods available in African markets, removing the need to establish separate payment arrangements in each country.
The integration is designed to address one of the aviation sector’s biggest challenges in Africa. Airlines operating across the continent often have to navigate different payment systems, multiple currencies, and varying financial regulations, requiring them to work with several payment providers in countries such as Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Egypt, and South Africa.
By connecting to Kora through IATA’s Financial Gateway, airlines can streamline payment operations while offering customers more familiar and accessible ways to pay for flights and related services.
The announcement comes as Africa’s aviation market is expected to experience significant growth in the coming decades. With passenger numbers projected to rise by more than 300 million by 2050, the demand for reliable and scalable payment infrastructure is also increasing.
Kora Chief Executive Officer Dickson Nsofor said the partnership demonstrates that the financial infrastructure needed to support the next phase of aviation growth in Africa is taking shape. According to him, airlines can now expand into African markets without facing the complexity of managing different payment systems in each country.
Kamil Al-Awadhi, IATA’s Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, said Kora’s addition to the Financial Gateway strengthens the platform’s ability to support airlines operating across the continent. He noted that the integration provides IATA’s approximately 370 member airlines with easier access to Africa’s diverse payment ecosystem.
The collaboration reflects a broader push to simplify cross-border commerce and improve payment efficiency, helping airlines serve customers more effectively while supporting the continued growth of Africa’s travel industry.
