UATP Taps dLocal to Drive Emerging Market Growth for UATP One Merchant Services

UATP has integrated dLocal into its UATP One merchant services platform, providing airlines and travel merchants with direct access to local payment processing across more than 60 countries. This partnership is a critical development for fintech professionals in the travel sector, as it simplifies cross-border transactions in high-growth emerging markets where local payment methods are essential for conversion.

What was announced

UATP, the global payment network owned by the world’s airlines, has officially named dLocal as its newest payment processing partner for the UATP One platform. This integration allows travel merchants to tap into dLocal’s extensive infrastructure across Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. By utilizing this partnership, airlines can avoid the complexity of establishing individual payment operations in every country where they operate, instead using a single route to local infrastructure.

The move is strategically timed to coincide with significant projected growth in these regions. Boeing’s 2025 outlook suggests that passenger traffic will rise by 7% annually in South and Southeast Asia, 6% in Africa, and over 4% in Latin America through 2044 - outpacing the global average of 4.2%. Furthermore, IATA projections through 2050 identify Asia-Pacific and Africa as the fastest-growing aviation markets. To capture this volume, dLocal provides access to over 1,000 local payment methods, ensuring that travelers can pay using the domestic tools they trust.

The partnership also addresses the complexities of indirect sales. By facilitating more effective Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP) flows, the collaboration helps airlines navigate travel agency channels and existing clearing systems with reduced friction. The service is currently live, allowing UATP clients to immediately begin accepting payments in these emerging territories through their existing network connections.

"Airlines and travel merchants want to reach customers in Latin America, Africa and Asia without building a payment operation in every country. Our partnership with UATP facilitates more effective BSP flows across those markets, helping airlines navigate indirect sales channels through travel agencies and existing clearing systems with less complexity. That creates a simpler path to expand in a valuable, high-growth sector with an established, trusted partner."

Horacio Raviolo, Head of Commercial Partnerships at dLocal.

The companies involved

UATP (Universal Air Travel Plan) is a global payment network that simplifies the payment process for the airline industry. It is owned and operated by the world's airlines and serves as a dedicated corporate travel payment solution, connecting merchants to a vast network of corporate buyers and travel agencies. Its UATP One platform is designed to provide comprehensive merchant services, reducing the technical and financial hurdles associated with global expansion.

dLocal is a NASDAQ-listed cross-border payment platform that specializes in connecting global merchants to billions of consumers in emerging markets. The company focuses on the "one dLocal" concept - one API, one platform, and one contract - to manage payments across diverse geographies. By bridging the gap between global enterprise requirements and local payment realities, dLocal has established itself as a dominant player in the fintech space for regions where traditional credit card penetration may be low but alternative payment methods are thriving. The company’s footprint is particularly strong in the regions identified by IATA and Boeing as the future drivers of aviation volume.

What FF News has reported before

FF News has closely followed dLocal’s expansion and its role in bridging global commerce with local payment ecosystems. We previously reported on how Gr4vy Introduces Pix Automático in Brazil via dLocal Integration, highlighting the company's ability to localize sophisticated payment features. dLocal’s market standing was further recognized when it was noted that dLocal Secures Spot on CNBC’s World’s Top Fintech Companies 2026 List. Additionally, the company has been active in broadening its reach through strategic alliances, such as when ACI Worldwide and dLocal Partner to Unlock Latin American Alternative Payments for Global Merchants, demonstrating a consistent pattern of enabling global brands to access the Latin American market.

What this means

This partnership is a clear signal that the airline industry is shifting its focus toward "hyper-localization" to capture the next wave of passenger growth. For UATP, adding dLocal isn't just about adding another processor; it is about solving the "last mile" of payments in regions where global credit cards often fail. This puts pressure on traditional legacy acquirers who lack deep, local alternative payment method (APM) integrations in Africa and Southeast Asia. For fintech observers, the key metric to watch will be the impact on conversion rates for airlines in these regions. If UATP One can demonstrably lower the cost of indirect sales via BSP flows, it may become the default gateway for any carrier looking southward or eastward for revenue.