The International Air Transport Association has launched a pilot of its Billing & Settlement Plan (BSP) in Somalia, with a full rollout expected by the end of May 2026, the global airline body said in a statement from Addis Ababa on April 30. IntelliNews
Ethiopian Airlines (ET) is among several airlines participating in the pilot programme, alongside four travel agents. The full launch will open the BSP to all airlines and more than 300 travel agents operating in the country. ch-aviation
The BSP is a worldwide system designed to facilitate and simplify financial transactions between IATA-accredited passenger sales agents and airlines, tracking and managing sales of air tickets between more than 400 airlines and tens of thousands of agents globally. In 2025, the BSP processed more than 700mn transactions across more than 180 countries, totalling USD 242bn. IATA
Somalia is a participant in IATA’s Focus Africa initiative, launched in 2023 to accelerate the development of the African aviation sector and address structural barriers including funds repatriation, financial transactions and regulatory harmonisation.
The launch comes as Somalia works to modernise its civil aviation system, strengthen regional and international connectivity and position Mogadishu as a transport hub in the Horn of Africa. The federal government regained control of the country’s airspace in 2017, more than two decades after air traffic management had moved outside Somalia following the collapse of the central government. In 2023, international aviation authorities restored Class A air traffic control services over the Mogadishu Flight Information Region. Caasimada
Somalia’s Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, Mohamed Farah Nuh, said the country was at a turning point for its aviation sector. “Growing connectivity regionally and globally underpins our ambition to revitalise the economy of Somalia and position Mogadishu as a transport hub on the Horn of Africa. Despite decades of adversity, the federal government has made commendable strides in rebuilding and modernising every aspect of its civil aviation system. This extends to putting in place financial systems to support the growth of air transport, which the opening of the BSP will provide.” — IATA press release, April 30, 2026
Kamil Alawadhi, IATA’s Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, said: “Accelerating the implementation of secure, effective and cost-efficient financial services is a key pillar of IATA’s Focus Africa initiative.” — IATA press release, April 30, 2026