Emirates Airline Adding Crypto Payments, Years After Teasing Bitcoin Plans

Dubai-based airline Emirates has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Crypto.com to explore integrating the exchange’s crypto payments functionality into the airliner’s payment systems. 

The official integration of the feature is expected to take place next year, according to an official announcement. Emirates previously teased plans in 2022 to implement Bitcoin payments, per a report from Arab News.

“Partnering with Crypto.com to integrate cryptocurrency into our digital payments system reflects Emirates’ commitment to meeting evolving customer preferences, in addition to tapping into younger, tech-savvy customer segments who prefer digital currencies,” Emirates Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer Adnan Kazim said in a statement. 

Details on the types of goods or services Emirates would accept crypto payments for, or which crypto tokens would be accepted, were not detailed. 

Crypto.com Pay’s business feature allows merchants to accept more than 20 different settlement options, including Bitcoin and Ethereum, as well as fiat currencies like USD and EUR. It is currently utilized by more than 4,000 merchants, according to the firm’s website. 

“As we continue to expand the everyday use case for crypto, integration with exceptional partners such as Emirates will bring real momentum to the digital asset industry and enable both companies to offer genuine innovative finance solutions for our customers” said Crypto.com President and COO Eric Anziani, in a statement.

The firms will also utilize promotional marketing campaigns to grow awareness of the upcoming crypto payment feature. 

In May, Crypto.com also signed a MoU with Dubai Finance, the financial department of the Dubai Government, to allow payments for government fees. The city had previously initiated a “cashless strategy” campaign in October. 

Representatives for Emirates and Crypto.com did not immediately respond to Decrypt’s request for comment.