1time Airline has become the first airline in Africa to allow its customers to purchase flight tickets online paying with a debit card, following the launch of MTN Mobile Money’s payD.

According to the airline, payD, which utilises the new Authenticated Mobile Transaction (AMT) payment method, is the most efficient secure way to pay and be paid online, and offers a viable alternative to existing online credit card payment systems that are used. It thus offers 1time customers a safe, convenient and instant way to make payment on their website without using credit.

1time Airline’s ceo, Rodney James, notes that the introduction of payD is aligned to the airline’s core customer objectives.

“We are consistently aware of the need to offer our customers innovative options that are more convenient, safer and user friendly, and thus, we are proud to be one of the first airlines to offer this service. The use of payD broadens the options available to customers on our website, protects them against possible fraud, and further simplifies the process of purchasing tickets online.”

payD combines the trusted and omnipresent chip and Personal Identification Number (PIN) technology, which has made credit card transactions more secure, with the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card technology of cell phones.

“Instead of entering your PIN number into a key pad at a checkout/till point counter to authorise the transaction on the website, 1time passengers enter their PIN into their own cell phone in a secure ‘SIM and PIN’ or AMT transaction,” explains Dave Parratt, head of new business development at MTN Mobile Money.

payD then uses the customer’s SIM card and cell phone for the transaction, akin to the secure keypad element of a manual debit card transaction. The first time a customer uses payD, the debit or credit card number is linked to the cell phone number. This only takes place once, and from then on, the cell phone number will be the identifier for all future payD transactions.

Currently, Standard Bank and Nedbank pin-based debit card holders on the MTN and Vodacom networks can make use of the system but 1time is hopeful that soon more banks and cellular providers will also come on board.

James concludes that ensuring innovation, reliability and ease of use for its customers is a critical priority for 1time.

For more details refer to a future issue of TNW.