Tanzanian customers flying with flydubai can now pay for flight bookings using mobile money services following the airline’s expanded partnership with Network International.
The move is expected to boost convenience for passengers while supporting the growth of the digital payment ecosystem in Tanzania and the wider East African region.
The development makes Tanzania the third market in East Africa where flydubai has enabled mobile money payments, after successful rollouts in Kenya and Uganda.
Travellers booking directly with flydubai online or via its mobile app can now complete transactions using local payment options such as Tigo Pesa and Airtel Money.
Judy Waruiru, Regional Managing Director for East Africa at Network International, said the partnership was designed to enhance customer choice and convenience.
“This continued collaboration gives flydubai customers even greater flexibility by enabling secure, seamless mobile money payments alongside traditional cards. As mobile payments gain momentum, especially in East Africa, we’re proud to be at the forefront, enhancing customer convenience while driving innovation,” she noted.
Sudhir Sreedharan, Divisional Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations (UAE, GCC, Africa and South Asia) at flydubai, said the initiative built on proven success in the region.
“Our collaboration with Network International builds on the success that we have already witnessed in Kenya and Uganda, reflecting our unwavering commitment to providing our customers with more choice and flexibility regarding their booking and payment options. We look forward to promoting the use of local payment systems beyond the region and providing a convenient travel experience from the moment our passengers choose to travel with flydubai,” he said.
Industry data shows that Tanzania is one of Africa’s fastest-growing mobile money markets.
According to the GSMA, the number of registered mobile money accounts in the country rose from 26 million in 2019 to 53 million in 2023, raising penetration from 46 percent to 83 percent.
Over the same period, transaction volumes increased from USD 3 billion to USD 5.3 billion annually.
flydubai currently operates a network of more than 135 destinations in 57 countries across Africa, Central Asia, the Caucasus, Central and South-East Europe, the GCC and the Middle East, South Asia and South-East Asia, with a modern fleet of 93 Boeing 737 aircraft.
