Emirates has launched a split-payment solution for customers in Kenya through its partnership with Cellulant, a payments technology company in Africa.
The feature, provided via Cellulant’s Tingg payment gateway, allows travellers to combine multiple payment methods, including mobile money, mobile banking, and local credit or debit cards.
Customers can make an initial payment online, followed by up to four instalments within 24 hours. The service will roll out to other African markets in the coming months.
“With hundreds of millions of Africans relying on mobile money as their preferred way to pay, extending this convenience to global travel payments is essential,”
said Michael Muriuki, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Cellulant.
“Through Tingg, we are enabling Emirates customers to complete high-value transactions seamlessly, without transaction limits becoming a barrier to access.”
Christophe Leloup, Emirates’ Country Manager for Kenya, added:
“Kenya is one of the most dynamic markets on our global network, and we’re always looking for ways to enhance our customer experience across every touchpoint, including the booking process. By introducing split payments, through Tingg by Cellulant, we unlock greater flexibility and convenience, while enabling more customers to access our world-class product and services.”
Africans use mobile money widely, with over 1 billion wallets conducting more than 80 billion transactions annually, totalling over US$1 trillion.
Transaction and daily limits on mobile wallets can prevent customers from completing high-value purchases such as airline tickets.
The split-payment solution addresses this by allowing bookings to proceed within provider-imposed limits.
In Kenya, Emirates accepts payments through mobile apps such as M-Pesa and Safaricom or via mobile banking transfers through partner banks, facilitated by Cellulant.
Across 14 African markets, including South Africa, Ghana, and Zimbabwe, Emirates and Cellulant offer a range of financing options.
The launch coincides with Emirates adding a third daily flight on the Dubai-Nairobi route from 1 March 2026, reflecting sustained demand on this corridor.
The payment solution is intended to make bookings more accessible alongside increased capacity.
Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Middle East, based on image by farknot via Freepik
