Kenya Airways and Visa have signed a strategic co-brand agreement intended to strengthen the travel experience for customers and encourage greater use of digital payments within the aviation industry.

The partnership will see the introduction of co-branded credit and debit cards, which are expected to be available later this year.

These cards will combine payment functionality with a range of travel-related features.

Cardholders will be able to collect reward points for purchases made with the cards, which can then be redeemed for flights, upgrades, and other services.

In addition, the cards will provide access to travel benefits such as airport lounge entry, priority boarding, and additional baggage allowances.

The collaboration will also focus on expanding secure digital payment solutions across the airline’s services, covering flight bookings, in-flight purchases, and other travel-related transactions.

Customers using the cards will also have access to selected discounts and promotional offers on Kenya Airways flights and associated services.

Julius Thairu, Chief Commercial and Customer Officer at Kenya Airways, said the agreement reflects the airline’s efforts to adapt to changing passenger needs and expectations.

“We are excited to join forces with Visa to deliver modern digital payment options that improve every step of the journey, from booking to boarding. This partnership reflects our shared goal of transforming travel with technology, and we look forward to providing great value to our customers worldwide,” he said.

Chad Pollock, Vice President and General Manager at Visa East Africa, noted that the initiative builds on Visa’s focus on developing digital payment solutions across the region.

“This co-brand agreement reflects our commitment to enhancing the customer experience and promoting the adoption of digital payments in the travel industry,” he said.

Both companies confirmed that they will work closely together to ensure a smooth rollout of the new cards and to promote their adoption among travellers once launched.

Featured image credit: Kenya Airways