Payments Cost Airlines $24.5bn in 2025
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported that payment processing costs for airlines reached $24.5 billion in 2025. IATA highlighted the need for cost efficiency in payment transactions amid rising industry expenses.
Custos com meios de pagamento somaram USD 24,5 bilhões às companhias aéreas em 2025 (pdf)
Les paiements ont coûté 24,5 milliards $ aux compagnies aériennes en 2025 (pdf)
国际航协：2025年全球航空公司支付成本高达245亿美元 (pdf)
(pdf) عمليات الدفع تكلّف شركات الطيران 24.5 مليار دولار خلال عام 2025
Macao – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released new data demonstrating the rising cost burden of payment processing.
“The airline industry is hyper competitive, capital intensive and famously low margin. In such an environment every cost item needs to be looked at carefully. The fact that payment transaction costs are increasing faster than industry revenues is unsustainable and, despite significant technological advances, highlights the critical need for greater cost efficiency,” said Sandrine Le Borgne, IATA’s Interim Director General and CFO.
Further analysis of the $24.5 billion cost of payments in 2025 revealed that:
IATA is exploring several solutions and guidance that will bring efficiency to payments to airlines including:
“In addition to cost-efficiency, IATA research shows that providing passengers with alternative payment methods could also have a revenue-generating impact. About one in five ancillary purchase attempts are not completed because the initial payment attempt was refused and no other method was offered. Enabling more payment options has the potential to help airlines realize some of this lost revenue,” said Le Borgne.
For more information, please contact:
Corporate Communications
Tel: +41 22 770 2967
Email: corpcomms@iata.org
Notes for Editors: