East Africans will now be able to book, confirm and pay for their air tickets through their mobile phones. This follows the signing of a partnership between listed telecoms operator Safaricom with a number of local airlines: East African, Air Kenya and Aircraft Leasing Services (ALS) whose aim is to enable travelers book their airline tickets from their mobile phones and pay through the M-PESA money transfer service.To use the service, subscribers will be required to log on to Safaricom from their mobile phones. They will then select their preferred flight, enter their names and mobile number upon which they will get a booking reference and instructions on how to pay through M-PESA. Once they make payments, they will receive a confirmation SMS with their booking details.

Pilots for the innovative service began in July this year culminating in its launch. Safaricom has targeted to recruit over one million data subscribers in the next three months through such innovative services, as a key plank of its push to increase its penetration of Kenya’s data market.

The launch of this new service underpins Safaricom’s leadership in the data market by leveraging its anchor stake in TEAMS and investment in Seacom undersea cables and its globally-acclaimed M-PESA money transfer service. Safaricom has also acquired the exclusive usage of Jamii Telecoms’ expansive metro fibre network in key cities in Kenya. Last year, Safaricom acquired a majority stake in One Com and proposes to acquire Packet Stream Data, both of which use WiMAX technology. 

Speaking during the launch, Safaricom Chief Executive Officer Mr. Michael Joseph said the new service, which is an innovative integration between the firm’s data and M-PESA platforms, would enable the firm’s subscribers obtain day to day services in an efficient, cost effective and secure manner.

“Customers incur huge costs and the inefficiency associated with having to commute and carry cash to pay for such services. With this new service, our subscribers can now book, make confirmations and pay their regional airline tickets from their data-enabled mobile phones, wherever they are,” he said.  

The launch of the new service comes at a time when Safaricom is widening the gulf between it and the competition in the data market. The company is now able to offer a total end-to-end offering for corporate, SME, home and individual users.

ENDS…