Ethiopian Airlines has announced a strategic expansion of its partnership with Chapa Financial Technologies, one of Ethiopia’s leading fintech innovators, to introduce a groundbreaking payment option for its customers. For the first time, travelers can now purchase airline tickets and services using local ATM debit cards, marking a significant milestone in the national carrier’s digital transformation journey.
This new integration builds upon an existing collaboration between the two companies, which previously enabled digital wallet payments. With the latest upgrade, Ethiopian Airlines customers can seamlessly transact through Ethiopia’s domestic banking network, eliminating the need for international cards or cumbersome payment workarounds.
Halimelekot Mamo, Vice President of Digital Sales and Global Contact and Interaction Center (GCIC) at Ethiopian Airlines, emphasized the strategic importance of the partnership:
This new integration gives customers greater speed, ease, and confidence when making purchases. Direct bank connectivity and real-time payment monitoring will significantly enhance our digital infrastructure.
Mamo also hinted at future collaborations with other local tech innovators aimed at expanding digital access and improving customer experience across Ethiopia.
The announcement comes amid a period of robust growth for Ethiopian Airlines. In the 2024/25 fiscal year, the airline reported a record $7.6 billion in revenue and served 19.1 million passengers. With a global network spanning 144 destinations, the carrier is also investing in infrastructure, including the construction of a new international airport in Bishoftu, Oromia Regional State, to support its expanding operations.
For Chapa, which is already integrated into over 1,500 organizations, the partnership with Ethiopian Airlines represents a major leap forward in its mission to simplify and localize digital payments across key sectors.
Nael Hailemariam, Co-founder and CEO of Chapa, explained the technical achievement behind the integration:
We identified the one payment pathway Ethiopian Airlines hadn’t yet enabled—ATM card-based payments. Consolidating the necessary bank integrations was a complex process that would have taken years if done individually.
Hailemariam, who once studied abroad through an Ethiopian Airlines scholarship, described the collaboration as a personal milestone and a full-circle moment. He also revealed that Chapa and Ethiopian Airlines are exploring future joint ventures, particularly in logistics and cargo services, signaling a deepening of their partnership.
This initiative not only enhances customer convenience but also aligns with Ethiopia’s broader goals of financial inclusion and digital innovation, setting a new benchmark for how national institutions can collaborate with fintech startups to drive progress.
