PARIS - Airlines warned on Monday that service to countries in Africa and elsewhere that block the repatriation of funds is likely to suffer if there is no progress in talks to unfreeze money owed.

About $1.6 billion of funds are being withheld in Africa for various reasons, representing two thirds of the global total, the International Air Transport Association said in a briefing on strong prospects for growth in the continent's airline market.

(Reporting by Tim Hepher; Editing by David Goodman)