SOMALIA: IATA BSP to Roll Out Nationwide After Successful Pilot Phase

MOGADISHU, Somalia

• The Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) says the country is set to roll out the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP) nationwide having successfully conducted a localised trial run earlier this year.
• Ahmed Moallin Hassan, SCAA Director General, said the move marks a milestone in the modernisation of Somalia's air transport infrastructure.

• The BSP facilitates and simplifies financial transactions between IATA-accredited passenger sales agents and airlines.
• IATA launched the BSP pilot in Somalia in April 2026 and involved four travel agents and several airlines serving the country, including Ethiopian Airlines.
• The BSP is now set to open to all airlines and more than 300 travel agents operating in Somalia.
• Hassan credited Somali institutions such as IBS Bank in assisting the initiative alongside travel agencies.

"Somalia lacked an IATA country code, which connects Somalia's travel agencies with airlines. But now, the first ticket, a test ticket using the new Somali code, was issued by a travel agency in Mogadishu in July 2026. The test was a success," he said.

• Until this development, Somali travel agencies had had to use other countries' billing codes - Turkey, the United Kingdom and others, resulting in sales commissions being diverted to those territories.

"That commission will now return to the Somali government, creating jobs, increasing revenue, and boosting the economy," Hassan added.

Sources:

• Ftlsomalia
• IATA PR
• Facebook