Emirates Flies into Crypto with New Payment Option for Flight Bookings

Emirates, one of the world's largest airlines, has become the first major Gulf carrier to accept cryptocurrency payments for flight bookings. The airline has launched Crypto.com Pay, a digital payment solution that allows customers with a Crypto.com account to book flights on its website and app platforms using their preferred cryptocurrencies.

The integration is powered by Crypto.com's Dubai entity, which was granted a Stored Value Facilities (SVF) licence by the Central Bank of the UAE in May. This licence enables Emirates to process transactions in compliance with UAE regulatory standards.

Emirates' Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, Adnan Kazim, framed this move as a generational shift, pointing out that younger travellers 'manage their money and plan their journeys primarily from their phones' and expect airlines to keep up.