We have expanded our partnership with flydubai to now enable mobile money payments for travellers in Kenya and Uganda, beyond card payments. Passengers can now book flights and make other airline-related transactions conveniently, thanks to this integration which allows them to make payments via M-Pesa, Airtel Money and MTN Mobile Money. This move will facilitate seamless transactions for bookings and other airline-related services in the East African Region.
The integration is aimed at providing passengers with a seamless and secure payment experience, all the while catering to the increased preference for digital payment solutions in the markets. The carrier will introduce the payment option to more markets in Africa in the future including Tanzania.
Commenting on the partnership, Judy Waruiru, our Regional Managing Director for East Africa, Acquiring said: “This partnership marks a significant milestone in enhancing customer experience. With East Africa being a leader in mobile money adoption, integrating this payment option into an international airline underscores the power that strategic collaborations have in advancing localized digital payments.”
Sudhir Sreedharan, Divisional Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations (UAE, GCC, Africa and the Indian Subcontinent) at flydubai, said: “we are pleased to have partnered up with Network International and reaffirm our longstanding commitment to investing in the latest technologies and innovative solutions. Since launching our operations to Entebbe in 2014 and Mombasa in 2024, we have seen growing demand from these markets, reinforcing the need for more accessible and seamless payment solutions for our customers. Through this partnership, we look forward to continuing to provide an enhanced travel experience for our customers, both on the ground and in the air.”
As the travel industry undergoes a digital transition, the future of airline payments lies in meeting customers where they are – on their phones. Travellers expect convenience, speed and security, and this collaboration provides that.
With the integration of mobile money, Network and flydubai are helping reshape airline payments and enhance travellers’ experience – starting with Kenya and Uganda and soon expanding to Tanzania and other African markets.
Network International provides a full suite of technology-enabled payments solutions to merchants and financial institutions of all types and sizes, including acquiring and processing services and a comprehensive range of value-added services. It currently serves 50 countries across the MEA region, including more than 40 African markets.
Flydubai has built a growing network of more than 130 destinations in 55 countries across Africa, Central Asia, the Caucasus, Central and South-East Europe, the GCC and the Middle East, South Asia and South-East Asia. The carrier is served by a young and efficient fleet of 88 Boeing 737 aircraft.
