Emirates introduces split-payment solution in Kenya via Cellulant’s Tingg platform
New feature allows staggered transactions within 24 hours
DUBAI – Emirates has introduced a first-of-its-kind split-payment solution in Kenya, expanding financial flexibility for customers booking flights online.
The initiative has been launched through a longstanding partnership with Cellulant, a leading African payments technology company. Enabled by Tingg, Cellulant’s payment gateway, the new feature allows travellers to combine multiple payment methods or stagger payments within a 24-hour period.
The service is now live on the Emirates website in Kenya and is expected to be rolled out to additional African markets in the coming months. The move reflects growing demand for more accessible digital payment options, particularly in mobile-first economies.
Greater flexibility
Through Tingg’s split-payment capability, customers can combine mobile money, mobile banking and local credit or debit cards to complete a single booking. Travellers also have the option to make an initial payment online and settle the remaining balance in up to four additional instalments within 24 hours.
This approach is designed to help customers stay within daily transaction limits imposed by mobile money providers and banks, while still securing higher-value purchases such as international airline tickets. By unlocking the ability to split payments across methods or timeframes, Emirates aims to reduce booking drop-offs linked to payment caps.
Mobile money remains the dominant payment method across Africa, with more than one billion registered wallets and over 80 billion transactions collectively exceeding $1 trillion in value. Despite its scale, transaction and daily limits have often restricted customers from completing large purchases in a single attempt.
Addressing limits
The split-payment feature directly addresses this challenge by allowing Emirates customers to complete ticket bookings without breaching provider-imposed thresholds. Rather than abandoning a transaction midway, customers can now structure payments to remain compliant with limits while finalising their reservations.
In Kenya, Emirates already supports payments through mobile apps such as M-Pesa and Safaricom, as well as mobile banking transfers through partner banks via Cellulant. The addition of split payments strengthens this ecosystem, offering a more seamless path from search to confirmation.
Across Africa, Emirates and Cellulant facilitate a range of payment and finance options in 14 markets, including South Africa, Ghana and Zimbabwe. The latest development builds on this regional collaboration, aligning payment systems more closely with local consumer behaviour.
Cellulant operates in over 24 countries and supports more than 200 payment methods, including cards, bank transfers and mobile money. Its Tingg platform processes more than 4.5 million transactions daily across sectors such as travel and hospitality, telecommunications, e-commerce, ride-hailing, trade and remittances.
Emirates in Kenya
The launch coincides with Emirates’ planned expansion on the Dubai-Nairobi corridor. From 1 March 2026, the airline will add a third daily service between Dubai and Nairobi, increasing seat capacity on a route that has recorded consistently strong demand.
In recent months, Emirates’ double daily flights on the sector have operated at robust seat factors, signalling sustained appetite for travel between Kenya and its global network. The additional frequency is expected to enhance connectivity for both business and leisure travellers, while supporting trade and tourism links.
By pairing increased capacity with locally tailored payment solutions, Emirates is positioning itself to meet demand with greater accessibility. The airline describes Kenya as one of the most dynamic markets within its global network, and the enhanced booking flexibility forms part of broader efforts to improve the customer experience at every touchpoint.
Customers wishing to use the split-payment feature can access it directly through the Emirates website when selecting Kenya as their point of sale.