Kora Partners with IATA to Streamline Airline Payment Processing in Africa

Kora, a payment infrastructure platform specializing in emerging markets, has announced its integration with the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Financial Gateway (IFG). This partnership connects global airlines to Africa’s fragmented payment ecosystem through a single interface.

The IATA Financial Gateway is a dedicated payment orchestration platform that brings together various payment partners—global, regional, and local—to offer airlines diverse payment options while optimizing costs. With Kora now part of IFG, airlines can accept payments across multiple African countries via card, bank transfer, mobile money, and other popular local methods.

Addressing a Critical Market Challenge

Africa represents one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets, projected to add over 300 million new passengers by 2050. However, global airlines often face significant operational hurdles when expanding into Africa due to:

  • Fragmented payment rails
  • Foreign exchange complexities
  • Disconnected settlement systems
  • The need to manage multiple payment providers across different countries

This partnership addresses these challenges by providing airlines with a unified access point to Kora’s robust African payment infrastructure, complete with local compliance and reliable settlements.

Executive Perspectives

“Africa is not a market to figure out later—it’s a growth opportunity that demands serious infrastructure today,” stated Dickson Nsofor, CEO of Kora. “Our partnership with IATA signals that the rails are ready. Global airlines no longer have to choose between expanding into Africa and managing payment complexity.”

Kamil Al-Awadhi, Regional Vice President at IATA, added, “Kora’s participation strengthens our ability to serve airlines operating in or expanding across African markets.”

The integration provides IATA’s 370+ member airlines with direct access to Kora’s payment stack across all active markets. This development supports the industry’s broader trend toward more flexible and cost-effective travel payment solutions.