Almost 60% of airline funds, blocked from repatriation by governments around the world, were being held back by African countries, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reported. (IATA is the global representative body for the airline industry.) Of the global total of $1.7-billion in blocked airline funds, about $1-billion were being held by African countries. The total of $1.7-billion did represent a slight improvement over the total for blocked airline funds in April, which had been $1.8-billion. And there had been changes in the list of the worst-offending countries, with some falling down the list or even leaving it entirely, but others moving up it. Currently, just nine countries and currency blocs account for 83% ($1.43-billion) of all blocked airline funds.