Emirates and Cellulant Introduce First-of-Its-Kind Split-Payment Solution in Kenya
The new solution addresses a common challenge in Africa, where mobile money dominates payments but transaction and daily limits often prevent high-value purchases such as airline tickets.
Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, has launched an innovative split-payment solution for travellers in Kenya through its longstanding partnership with Cellulant, Africa’s leading payments technology company. The feature, powered by Cellulant ’s payment gateway Tingg, allows customers to combine multiple payment methods—including mobile money, mobile banking, and local credit and debit cards—enabling an initial payment online followed by up to four additional instalments within 24 hours. This provides greater financial flexibility, particularly for mobile-first customers, and is expected to expand to other African markets in the coming months.
The new solution addresses a common challenge in Africa, where mobile money dominates payments but transaction and daily limits often prevent high-value purchases such as airline tickets. By splitting payments, Emirates enables customers to complete bookings without exceeding these limits, making international travel more accessible. The feature complements other Emirates financing options available across the region, including South Africa, Ghana, and Zimbabwe, through mobile apps like M-Pesa, Safaricom, and partner bank transfers.
Michael Muriuki, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Cellulant, highlighted the importance of enabling seamless, high-value transactions for African customers, while Christophe Leloup, Emirates’ Country Manager for Kenya, emphasized the airline’s commitment to enhancing customer experience through convenient, locally relevant solutions.
The launch coincides with Emirates adding a third daily flight on the Dubai–Nairobi route from 1 March 2026, increasing capacity on a corridor that has experienced strong demand. By pairing additional flights with innovative payment options, Emirates and Cellulant are ensuring that accessibility keeps pace with growing air travel demand in Kenya.
