Grace Ashiru
Payments infrastructure company Kora has become part of the International Air Transport Association’s Financial Gateway (IFG), a platform that helps airlines manage and process payments worldwide. The integration means international carriers and travel agencies on IFG can now take payments across Africa through Kora’s rails — covering cards, bank transfers, mobile money, and various local payment methods — without needing to set up separate arrangements in each market.
The move addresses a long-standing headache for airlines operating in Africa: a patchwork of local payment systems, currency complications, and the need to juggle multiple payment providers across markets like Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Egypt, and South Africa. With Africa projected to add over 300 million air passengers by 2050, the continent represents a major growth opportunity for the aviation industry. Kora CEO Dickson Nsofor said the partnership shows that the payment infrastructure needed to support that growth is now in place, letting airlines expand into Africa without getting bogged down by payment logistics. IATA’s regional vice president for Africa and the Middle East, Kamil Al-Awadhi, said Kora’s inclusion strengthens IFG’s ability to serve airlines across the continent — giving IATA’s roughly 370 member airlines a more direct route into Africa’s payment systems.
