Travelers in Uganda will from today conveniently buy tickets from their phones after Kenya Airways and MTN Uganda partnered to launch a service that allows them to pay for Kenya Airways tickets using MTN Mobile Money.
Speaking at the launch, the airlines Head of Information Systems Development, Mr. Henry Obare said that the MTN Mobile Money Payment option has registered success in the sale of Kenya Airways tickets through Mobile Money services in Kenya. He expressed optimism that the Uganda market will enjoy the ease and convenience that comes with the use of this service.
Mr.Obare explained that the airline has been at the forefront in embracing advancements within the mobile and ICT sector to enhance the customer experience.
“We not only focus on offering an excellent in-flight experience for our customers but also on making the entire end-to-end journey (right from the purchase of the tickets to the handling at destination airports) pleasant,” said Mr. Obare.
MTN Uganda Chief Marketing Officer Ernst Fonternel welcomed the partnership with Kenya Airways to deliver convenience to over 8 million customers on the MTN network.
“As per the GSMA 2012 Global Mobile Money adoption survey, MTN Uganda ranks 2nd in the world in the of number of active Mobile Money customer accounts. Today, as we launch this partnership with Kenya Airways, I’m hopeful that the Airline’s customers will find MTN Mobile Money an easy, convenient, safe and secure service,” Mr. Fonternel said.
The deal sees Kenya Airways customers to visit the Airline’s website or call its offices to make a reservation and obtain a reference number and flight quotation in Uganda Shillings.
The customer then heads to their phone’s Mobile Money menu, and selects Pay Bill option, enters short code KQ, then the reference number and the amount to be paid for the air ticket. The transaction details will be displayed on the customers’ phone instantly. And the airline will email the air ticket back to the customer. The ticket may also be collected at any of Kenya Airways offices worldwide.
Kenya Airways operates 5 daily flights between Uganda’s Entebbe International Airport and its hub in Nairobi, and serves over 45 African destinations, having launched its 61st destination to Blantyre in Malawi this month.