Air travelers in Uganda can now book their trips using their mobile phones, thanks to the launch of “Travel by Momo,” a new service from MTN Mobile Money.
Jemima Kariuki, Chief Product Officer at MTN MoMo, says the service lets customers manage how they plan and pay for their trips.
The product, a joint initiative with Next Travel and online travel reservation firm Amadeus, allows customers to browse flights across multiple airlines, compare schedules and prices, select the option that works for them, and pay securely with MTN MoMo, all in one place.
MTN MoMo Managing Director, Phrase Lubega, says there is no longer the need to look for agents or to search for trusted websites, let alone sending money to a person or firm not known, all of which cause discomfort or anxiety.
He says that the service accessed through the MoMo app will continue to be upgraded and more features added to meet the evolving demands and needs of the flying customers.
The system can be used to book not only flights to and from Uganda, but from any airport to any destination, with the ability to book more than 400 airlines worldwide.
The other advantage is that the system quotes the cost of the ticket in the local currency, saving the passenger the trouble of converting foreign exchange.
Travel By MoMo also enables the prospective traveler to search, compare, and pay for flights directly from their mobile phones using the MoMo App, eliminating many of the barriers traditionally associated with booking international travel.
Jonathan Martin Kyeyo, General Manager of Next Travel, says these capabilities will give customers greater flexibility and more control over their journeys as the platform continues to evolve.
Issa Sekitto, the Chairman of Kampala City Traders Association, welcomed the innovation, saying it not only saves frequent travelers, especially traders, a lot of time and money.
He says that this adds to the importance of a mobile phone, which has become part of the daily life of a person, though, according to him, Ugandans are yet to take full advantage of the opportunities and convenience that come with the mobile phone, especially doing and facilitating business.
On the use of the new system, Sikitto says traders have been spending a lot of money, especially through using travel agents, who, he says, charge between 50 and 100 dollars-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
