Kenya low cost carrier Jambo Jet and mobile commerce firm Cellulant have partnered to provide a payment platform for flight bookings and ticket payments via mobile phones. Jambo Jet Customers can now pay from M-Pesa, Airtel Money and also from the banks such as Barclays, Standard Chartered, CFC Stanbic, NIC, Faulu, Bank of Africa, DTB, Ecobank, I&M and First Community Bank.
“The mobile payment platform is part of our strategy to keep costs minimal thus enabling us to deliver on our promise to offer our customers affordable air travel. The system goes live on the night of February 26 and therefore customers will be able to transact from their phones from February 27,” said Jambo Jet CEO Willem Hondius
The Kenya Airways subsidiary, Jambo Jet plans to offer fare for as low as Ksh. 2,850 one way from Nairobi to Mombasa. It will fly to Kisumu and Eldoret as well. Return tickets on other commercial airlines cost up to Sh. 10,000 or more to the same destinations. The airline is looking to make the most of its sales on the internet, where customers can book and pay using their cards or mobile money. Payment through phones will also help the firm save costs that come with the use of agents.
“Internet will also be the cheapest channel, if you buy through the internet you will get the lowest fares we will have available,” said Mr Hondius in an interview.
