Ethiopian Airlines Enables Debit Card Payments Through Chapa’s Payment Gateway

Ethiopian Airlines has entered into a new partnership with Chapa Financial Technologies, one of Ethiopia’s leading fintech companies, to enable customers to make payments in local currency using their ATM cards, a first for the national carrier.

The integration marks an expansion of a preexisting collaboration between the two companies, which had previously allowed digital wallet payments. With this upgrade, travelers can now purchase tickets or other airline services directly through Ethiopia’s banking network using local debit cards, eliminating the need for international cards or complex workarounds.

Halimelekot Mamo, Vice President of Digital Sales and Global Contact and Interaction Center (GCIC) at Ethiopian Airlines, said the partnership is part of the airline’s broader strategy to lead through innovation in air mobility and digital payments.

“This new integration gives customers greater speed, ease, and confidence when making purchases,” he said, adding that direct bank connectivity and real-time payment monitoring will strengthen the airline’s digital infrastructure. Halimelekot also hinted at upcoming collaborations with other local innovators working to expand digital access across Ethiopia.

The announcement comes as the 79-year-old carrier continues its strong growth trajectory. Ethiopian Airlines reported a record $7.6 billion in revenue and 19.1 million passengers for the 2024/25 fiscal year. The airline, which serves 144 destinations worldwide, is also constructing a new international airport in Bishoftu, Oromia Regional State, to expand its capacity.

For Chapa, which is integrated into over 1500 organizations, the new partnership represents a milestone in its effort to streamline payments across major industries. Co-founder and CEO Nael Hailemariam said enabling ATM-based payments required consolidating complex bank integrations that would otherwise have taken years to establish individually.

“We found the one payment pathway Ethiopian Airlines had not yet enabled,” Nael told Shega. “It happened to be ATM card-enabled payments.”

Nael, who once studied abroad through an Ethiopian Airlines scholarship, described the collaboration as a full-circle moment. He also hinted that Chapa and the airline may soon explore joint ventures in logistics and cargo services.