Visa, Ethiopian Airlines Deepen Partnership to Boost Digital Payments for Travelers
( L-R): Ato Adamu Tadele – Group Chief Financial Officer at Ethiopian Airlines, Rahel Assefa, Group VP Marketing at Ethiopian Airlines, Yared Endale, Cluster Head- Eastern Africa, Visa and Michael Berner, Visa Senior Vice President for Southern and Eastern Africa
Nairobi, Kenya, April 29, 2026 — Visa Inc. has signed a new agreement with Ethiopian Airlines to expand co-branded payment solutions, in a move aimed at enhancing travel experiences and accelerating the adoption of digital payments across Africa.
The deal builds on a longstanding collaboration between the two global players and is expected to support the rollout and growth of Visa co-branded cards tailored for travelers. The partnership will focus on delivering seamless, secure, and rewarding payment options for both travel-related expenses and everyday purchases.
Under the agreement, the two organizations will jointly drive the uptake and usage of co-branded Visa cards, while also strengthening customer engagement and supporting Ethiopian Airlines’ expanding global footprint.
“Travel and payments are intrinsically linked, and this collaboration reflects our shared commitment to simplifying how customers pay and travel,” said Yared Endale. He noted that the partnership will enhance value, convenience, and choice for travelers across the region while advancing the evolution of digital payments.
The collaboration will also include marketing campaigns and innovation initiatives designed to improve the entire travel journey from booking and payments to loyalty programs and customer engagement. Visa’s global payment network is expected to play a key role in enabling secure and reliable cross-border transactions.
Rahel Assefa said the airline remains committed to offering passengers more flexible and convenient service options. “Our collaboration with Visa aims to further enhance payment options for our customers and increase convenience during every payment,” she said.
Ethiopian Airlines operates one of Africa’s largest aviation networks, connecting over 145 destinations worldwide with a fleet of more than 170 modern aircraft. The strengthened partnership signals a shared vision to support Africa’s aviation sector, improve customer experience, and fast-track the transition to electronic payments.
The announcement also aligns with Visa’s broader strategy to partner with airlines, merchants, and financial institutions to deliver secure, innovative, and inclusive payment solutions that facilitate commerce and cross-border travel across the continent.
