Emirates Airline has enabled Bitcoin and cryptocurrency payments for flight bookings. The Dubai-based carrier announced Tuesday that it partnered with Crypto.com to integrate the exchange’s payment feature into its booking platforms. This collaboration allows travelers to utilize digital assets when purchasing tickets.
“Reflects the rapidly evolving preferences of a younger, digitally fluent generation who manage their money and plan their journeys primarily from their phones and they expect the airlines they fly with to keep pace.”
— Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer
Customers holding a Crypto.com account can now select Crypto.com Pay at checkout when booking on emirates.com or via the Emirates App. This feature allows users to settle payments using various digital assets held in their accounts. However, the option is currently limited to eligible UAE residents making bookings priced and settled in Emirati Dirham. The airline first teased its intention to implement Bitcoin payments back in 2022, and this latest update brings that plan to fruition. Crypto.com and Emirates initially announced their working relationship last year.
The integration runs through Crypto.com’s Dubai-licensed entity, which the company notes was the first virtual asset service provider to receive a Stored Value Facilities license from the Central Bank of the UAE. This move aligns with broader government objectives, specifically supporting Dubai’s Cashless Strategy. This strategy is part of the D33 Economic Agenda, which aims to make 90% of transactions across the emirate’s government and private sectors digital by the end of 2026. The initiative follows earlier partnerships involving Emirates, Dubai Finance, and Crypto.com designed to advance digital payment infrastructure for services.
