New deal enables EA travellers to pay 10 airlines via mobile money

A mobile payments provider has partnered with cloud reservation platform AeroCRS to allow passengers make payments to 10 airlines in the region.

The service by 3G Direct Pay Group (3GDP) will cover M-Pesa and Airtel Money in Kenya. Others are M-Pesa, Tigo-Pesa and Airtel Money in Tanzania as well as MTN Money in Zambia, Rwanda and Uganda.

Managing director of 3GDP Eran Feinstein said the platform can be used for multi-currency payments which allows cross-network payments.

“This solution enables airlines and their clients who make reservations to effectively use their mobile money wallets for transactions.

It continues our mission as a company to give freedom to everyone to pay and be paid anywhere any time by any mode of payments,” he said.

According to him, more than 10 airlines have signed up for the service in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda although the solution can be used by airlines in the five East African countries.

He said that plans were underway to enhance the system by adding mobile money options in other countries across Africa.

The product does not require any special integration from the airline.

This means airlines can operate more efficiently through the automatic updating of mobile money payments into the reservation system, reducing waiting time for clients who buy tickets.

Before the introduction of the solution airlines had to reconcile mobile money payments manually before updating them in the reservation system.