IATA Targets $22 Billion Savings as Airlines Push for Smarter Payments and Retailing | By Dominick Andoh |
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has identified payment modernisation and retail transformation as top priorities for the airline industry, with the potential to save airlines up to $22 billion annually and enhance passenger convenience worldwide.
Addressing delegates at the 2025 IATA World Financial Symposium and World Passenger Symposium in Istanbul, Sandrine Le Borgne, IATA’s Senior Vice President, Corporate Services & Chief Financial Officer, said financial resilience and passenger experience are deeply interconnected.
“Payments are not a back-office detail; they are a strategic agenda item,” Le Borgne stated. “Modern payment solutions can reduce cost, enhance customer choice, and free up capital for innovation and sustainability.”
She said IATA’s digital solutions, including the IATA Financial Gateway (IFG), IATA Pay, and Easy Pay, have already demonstrated success in improving transaction efficiency and enabling faster settlements. The next step, she said, is industry-wide adoption supported by common standards and interoperability.
Le Borgne also highlighted the importance of the shift to Offers and Orders, a modern retailing framework that replaces outdated legacy systems to simplify pricing, booking, and accounting processes. She explained that this transformation will create new operational and commercial value across the global aviation ecosystem.
On digital identity, IATA is working with partners such as ICAO and the European Union to advance the use of Digital Travel Credentials (DTC) and biometric solutions through its One ID program, enabling passengers to move seamlessly through airports without presenting physical documents.
However, Le Borgne cautioned that despite technical progress, the industry has yet to reach critical mass in implementation. “Our passengers live digitally in every other part of their lives. They expect aviation to deliver the same seamless experience — everywhere, not just at one airport,” she said.
Le Borgne concluded by urging collaboration among airline executives, finance leaders, and regulators to accelerate transformation. “The business model of aviation is being redesigned. Collaboration is how we turn vision into reality,” she said.
IATA Targets $22 Billion Savings as Airlines Push for Smarter Payments and Retailing | AviationGhana
