IATA is asking governments to explain more clearly why passengers are refused entry and to share the resulting costs more fairly with airlines. Its October 30 announcement argues that carriers can check travel documents before departure but cannot prevent every refusal at the border.
Information gaps affect airline operations
The association’s new study draws on responses from 49 airlines and 22 border authorities. According to IATA, 40 of the airlines reported cases in which authorities did not disclose the reason for refusing a passenger entry.
All participating airlines said they had experienced operational delays connected with inadmissible passengers. Arranging a return journey can involve finding seats, coordinating with authorities and securing escorts, with consequences for aircraft and crew schedules.
IATA wants responsibility and penalties to reflect the precautions an airline took and what it could reasonably control. It also calls for earlier digital document checks, better information exchange and clearer coordination when a passenger must be removed.
What the research can tell us
The report’s methodology says the survey findings primarily cover cases recorded in 2024. The data were self-reported, and participation was voluntary. The sample was not designed to produce traffic-weighted or statistically representative global figures.
The research also includes 20 interviews conducted for the study with airlines and border authorities. Its findings offer evidence of operational problems among participants, rather than a measure of every country’s practices or the likelihood that an individual traveller will be refused entry.
The October 30 release sets out an industry policy request. It announces no new passenger entry requirement.
Sources: IATA’s October 30 announcement and the published report, including its methodology on pages 38–40.
