JANUARY 18, 2013

Pan-African low-cost airline fastjet has launched a mobile payment solution with Tanzania's leading telecommunications company Vodacom.

This enables fastjet customers to buy airline tickets using their mobile phones. M-PESA (M for mobile, Pesa is Swahili for money) provides the cash economies of East Africa with the ability to deposit or withdraw cash, send money, buy prepaid airtime, pay utility bills and now purchase fastjet tickets.

Credit and debit card payments are expected to be introduced next month, providing a further easy payment option for international passengers. Domestic flights in Tanzania from Dar es Salaam to Mwanza and Kilimanjaro began on 29 November and have seen strong demand.