Ugandans can now search for and book flights directly through the MoMo app using mobile money, offering an alternative to bank cards for online travel payments.
The service, known as Travel by MoMo, allows users to select flights and pay directly from their mobile money wallets without needing a Visa or Mastercard.
The development could make online flight bookings more accessible to travellers who do not own international payment cards or have experienced declined transactions when paying on foreign travel websites.
Through the service, users can also pay in Ugandan shillings, helping them avoid unexpected foreign currency conversion charges associated with some international online transactions.
Travel by MoMo is integrated into the MoMo app, allowing customers to arrange their journeys from their phones without visiting travel agents or making separate payments through bank cards.
The booking process involves opening the MoMo app, selecting Lifestyle on the home page and tapping Travel. Users then enter their departure and destination cities, select their travel dates and choose a suitable flight.
Payment is completed directly through the MoMo wallet using the customer's PIN, after which the electronic ticket is delivered to their phone.
The service also allows customers to arrange travel for other people, including family members and employees travelling for work, using the same booking process.
For businesses, this could provide a convenient option for arranging staff travel, while individuals can organise trips for relatives without requiring them to have their own payment cards.
Online flight booking has increasingly become a standard part of travel planning, but access to international payment methods remains a challenge for some consumers. Card restrictions, declined transactions and foreign currency charges can complicate the process, particularly for people who primarily use mobile money for everyday financial transactions.
By integrating flight booking into its mobile money platform, Travel by MoMo seeks to bridge that gap by combining travel search, payment and ticket delivery within one application.
Customers can access the service through the MoMo app by selecting Lifestyle, then Travel, and following the booking instructions.
With mobile money already part of everyday transactions for many Ugandans, the service offers another way to use digital financial tools beyond sending money, paying bills and purchasing goods and services.
Travellers can open the MoMo app, tap Lifestyle, select Travel and book their next flight directly from their mobile money wallet without a bank card.