Flydubai to introduce mobile money payment option for air tickets in Kenya and Uganda

March 25, 2025 in Business, Companies, Trade & Industry, Travel & Tourism by Editor

Judy Waruiru, Regional Managing Director for East Africa Acquiring at Network, and Bobby Koshy Regional Manager, East and South Africa at flydubai during the partnership announcement

Dubai based carrier flydubai and digital payments provider Network International (Network), have extended their partnership to support the introduction of a mobile money payment option for the carrier’s customers in Kenya and Uganda. The move will enable seamless transactions for bookings and other airline-related services in East Africa, complementing other payment options such as cards.

Customers travelling with flydubai will now be able to pay via Mpesa, Airtel Money and MTN Mobile money when booking flights directly with flydubai.com or on the flydubai mobile app.

According to Network, the integration is expected to provide passengers with a seamless and secure payment experience, as the carrier pivots towards the increased preference for digital payment solutions in the market it serves.

The carrier will introduce the payment option to more markets in Africa in the future including Tanzania.

“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,” Sudhir Sreedharan, Divisional Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations (UAE, GCC, Africa and the Indian Subcontinent) at flydubai said in comments on the partnership.

Judy Waruiru, Regional Managing Director for East Africa Acquiring at Network, added: “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. We are bridging global travel with familiar, seamless payment solutions, which not only improves the customer experience but also sets a precedent for expanding digital solutions across the region.”

Network International provides a full suite of technology-enabled payments solutions to merchants and financial institutions of all types and sizes, and currently serves 50 countries across the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, including more than 40 African markets.

flydubai which flies to 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 operates a daily service to Entebbe.