Ethiopian Airlines and Visa Partner to Improve How Travellers Pay, Book and Experience Seamless Journeys
Ethiopian Airlines and Visa have announced a strengthened collaboration aimed at expanding co-branded payment card offerings, in a move designed to enhance digital payment experiences and improve customer convenience for travellers across Africa and beyond.
The agreement will support the rollout and growth of Visa co-branded payment products, reinforcing a long-standing partnership between Africa’s largest airline group and one of the world’s leading digital payments companies.
Under the renewed collaboration, the two organisations will work closely to drive greater adoption of co-branded Visa cards, enabling customers to enjoy more seamless, secure and rewarding payment options for both travel and everyday transactions. The initiative is also expected to strengthen customer engagement and support Ethiopian Airlines’ continued international expansion.
Speaking on the partnership, Visa’s Cluster Head for Eastern Africa, Mr Yared Endale, said the collaboration reflects a shared commitment to simplifying the travel and payment experience.
“Travel and payments are intrinsically linked, and this collaboration reflects our shared commitment to simplifying how customers pay and travel,” he said. “By deepening our relationship with Ethiopian Airlines, we are supporting the evolution of digital payments while helping deliver more value, convenience and choice to travellers across the region.”
Ethiopian Airlines Group Marketing Vice President, Mrs Rahel Assefa, welcomed the agreement, noting that the airline remains committed to improving service accessibility and payment flexibility for its passengers.
“At Ethiopian, we continuously strive to provide our passengers with a seamless range of options to access and enjoy our services,” she said. “Our collaboration with Visa aims to further enhance payment options for our customers and increase convenience during every payment.”
Beyond card expansion, the partnership will also focus on joint marketing initiatives, innovation in customer engagement, and improvements across the entire travel journey, including booking, payment, and loyalty services. Visa’s global payment infrastructure will further enable secure and reliable cross-border transactions, supporting both regional and international travel.
Ethiopian Airlines, which operates flights to more than 145 global destinations with a modern fleet of over 170 aircraft, continues to position itself as a leading force in African aviation. The airline is a member of Star Alliance and has been recognised multiple times as the Best Airline in Africa by SKYTRAX.
Visa, which operates in over 200 countries and processes billions of transactions annually, said the partnership aligns with its broader commitment to advancing secure, innovative and inclusive digital payment systems globally.
