Flutterwave And IATA To Ease Travel Payments in Nigeria

Flutterwave, a payment solutions provider, has partnered with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to enable seamless travel-related payments in sub-Saharan Africa.

Through this collaboration, airlines worldwide will be able to accept various payment methods, including cards, bank transfers, mobile money, and alternative payment options, using Flutterwave’s platform.

The IATA Financial Gateway (IFG) is a comprehensive payment management platform designed specifically for the airline industry. It allows airlines to receive payments from local markets across all their distribution channels.

With approximately 290 international airlines under IATA, this partnership offers them an opportunity to expand their operations in Africa. They can now receive bookings and payments from customers in Africa, utilizing both local and international payment methods.

By integrating with Flutterwave through IFG, airlines and travel agencies can accept multiple forms of payment when customers book their flights.

Instead of dealing with complex connections to various payment service providers in Africa, IFG simplifies the process with a single global connection. It provides end-to-end control over payment and settlement processes, as well as seamless integration with ticketing systems and distribution channels.

This integration proves valuable for global airlines seeking to accept local currencies and indigenous payment methods. It enables them to provide seamless payment experiences to their millions of customers in Africa and other markets where Flutterwave operates.

Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Olugbenga Agboola, CEO, and Founder of Flutterwave, emphasized Africa’s potential for aviation growth and the importance of enabling easy operations and payments for airlines across the continent.

Mr Muhammad Albakri, IATA’s Senior VP of Financial Settlement and Distribution Services, expressed their support for Flutterwave’s participation in expanding secure and innovative payment methods in African markets.

The collaboration between Flutterwave and IATA aims to enhance payment options, improve the customer experience, and encourage global airlines to explore opportunities in Africa’s growing aviation sector.

Q1: What is Flutterwave’s partnership with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) about? 

A1: Flutterwave has partnered with IATA to facilitate travel-related payments to sub-Saharan Africa. This collaboration allows airlines worldwide to process customer payments through various methods using Flutterwave’s platform.

Q2: What is the IATA Financial Gateway (IFG) mentioned in the article? A2: IFG is a payment orchestration and management platform specifically designed for the airline industry. It enables airlines to receive local payments from different markets through their distribution channels.

Q3: How does this partnership benefit airlines and travel agencies? 

A3: Airlines and travel agencies can utilize Flutterwave via IFG to accept different forms of payment from customers when booking airline tickets. This integration streamlines payment processes and eliminates the need for managing multiple connections to payment service providers in Africa.

Q4: Why is this integration significant for global airlines? 

A4: The integration with Flutterwave and IFG allows global airlines to collect local currencies through cards and indigenous payment methods. This capability makes payments seamless for their customers in Africa and other markets where Flutterwave operates.

Q5: What are the advantages of using IFG and Flutterwave for airlines? A5: IFG offers a single global connection for airlines, simplifying payment and settlement processes. It also provides full control and seamless integration with ticketing systems and distribution channels. Flutterwave’s platform facilitates a wide range of payment options, catering to customers’ preferences and enabling efficient transactions.

Q6: How does this collaboration support the growth of aviation in Africa? 

A6: According to IATA, Africa is projected to become one of the fastest-growing aviation regions in the next 20 years. This partnership addresses the payment challenges faced by global airlines venturing into Africa, making it easier for them to set up operations and receive payments from their customers.

Q7: What do the representatives from Flutterwave and IATA say about the partnership? 

A7: Mr. Olugbenga Agboola, CEO & Founder of Flutterwave, highlights the potential for growth in Africa’s aviation sector and hopes that the partnership encourages more global airlines to expand into Africa. Mr. Muhammad Albakri, IATA’s Senior VP of Financial Settlement and Distribution Services, welcomes Flutterwave’s participation and emphasizes the availability of secure and innovative payment methods for airlines and travel resellers in Africa.