Ethiopian Airlines has deepened its partnership with Chapa Financial Technologies, one of Ethiopia’s leading fintech firms, to introduce a first-of-its-kind payment solution that allows customers to pay for tickets and services using local ATM debit cards. The move marks a major milestone in the national carrier’s ongoing digital transformation and financial inclusion drive.
Building on an earlier collaboration that enabled digital wallet payments, this latest integration allows travellers to transact directly through Ethiopia’s domestic banking network—removing the need for international cards or complex payment processes.
Halimelekot Mamo, Vice President of Digital Sales and Global Contact and Interaction Centre (GCIC) at Ethiopian Airlines, highlighted the significance of the development. “This new integration gives customers greater speed, ease, and confidence when making purchases. Direct bank connectivity and real-time payment monitoring will significantly enhance our digital infrastructure.”
Mamo also indicated that Ethiopian Airlines plans to work with other local technology innovators to broaden digital access and further elevate customer experience across the country.
The announcement comes at a time of strong performance for Ethiopian Airlines. In the 2024/25 fiscal year, the airline achieved record revenue of $7.6 billion and served 19.1 million passengers. With a global network spanning 144 destinations, the carrier is continuing to invest in infrastructure, including the construction of a new international airport in Bishoftu, Oromia Regional State, to accommodate its rapid growth.
For Chapa, which already serves more than 1,500 organisations, the expanded partnership represents a key step in its mission to localise and simplify digital payments across Ethiopia’s economy.
Nael Hailemariam, Co-founder and CEO of Chapa, shed light on the technical complexity behind the integration. “We identified the one payment pathway Ethiopian Airlines hadn’t yet enabled—ATM card-based payments. Consolidating the necessary bank integrations was a complex process that would have taken years if done individually.”
Hailemariam, who once studied abroad through an Ethiopian Airlines scholarship, described the partnership as both a professional and personal milestone—a full-circle moment in his career. He added that Chapa and Ethiopian Airlines are exploring future collaborations in logistics and cargo services, signalling a deepening partnership between the two national champions.
This initiative not only enhances customer convenience but also aligns with Ethiopia’s national goals of financial inclusion and digital innovation, setting a new standard for how established institutions can collaborate with fintech startups to drive economic progress.
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