A new study by Visa and the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) has revealed how passengers pay for their flights. The report also showed how airlines manage those payments behind the scenes.
The report is part of the Airline Payment Maturity Index survey. It looks at how African airlines can improve their financial performance by upgrading payment systems, reducing fraud and improving passenger experience.
Visa and AFRAA surveyed African carriers across the continent (including but not limited to AFRAA members) to assess how mature and efficient their payment systems are. The survey discovered that most airlines comply with key industry standards, but there is still a long way to go in other areas, including fraud management, digital tools usage, and data-driven decision-making.
Key Findings
- Compliance is solid, but there is a need for modernization – Most airlines are focused on ticking compliance boxes. To improve operational efficiency, the payment architectures should be modernized.
- Passenger experience should not be ignored – Digital payment tools are available, but execution gaps prevent passengers from enjoying smooth, secure, and seamless transactions.
- Fraud is an issue – Airlines need strong fraud detection systems to block any critical security gaps.
- Data is underutilized – Many airlines don’t yet monitor payment KPIs closely. They can make smarter and faster decisions with better analytics. This can help drive both revenue and cost-efficiency.
Visa’s Michael Berner, Head of Southern and East Africa, said:
“Efficient and secure payment systems are not just a back-office function—they’re core to the passenger experience and the bottom line. We’re excited to support African airlines as they modernize and embrace advanced payment technologies.”
AFRAA Secretary General Abdérahmane Berthé added:
“The insights from this survey are a strong foundation for strategic action. We’ll be working with airlines in workshops and forums to help them unlock these opportunities.”
A full whitepaper on the survey has been published and is available on the Visa and AFRAA websites. Visa will also present key insights during the Aviation Stakeholders Convention on May 12 in Kigali, Rwanda, with more technical workshops planned for later this year.
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