Vueling partnering with BitPay to accept crypto

Vueling, the Barcelona-based low-cost airline, has signed a partnership with BitPay to accept crypto payments for airline tickets. 

Vueling and BitPay to accept payments for airline tickets in cryptocurrency

International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG) airline Vueling has also reportedly entered into a partnership with crypto payment provider BitPay to accept cryptocurrency payments for airline tickets. 

.@vueling will be the first low-cost airline in Europe to accept #crypto. Crypto payments for individuals will be available at the start of next year. Read more from @pymnts: https://t.co/p3Xa07JpDu pic.twitter.com/SUAcOuuEI0

— BitPay (@BitPay) June 18, 2022

“Vueling will be the first low-cost airline in Europe to accept #crypto. Crypto payments for individuals will be available at the start of next year. Read more from @pymnts”.

Starting in 2023, through Universal Air Travel Plan (UATP) technology, the global payment network for the airline industry, Vueling will be the first low-cost airline in Europe to accept crypto payments. 

Vueling: the first low-cost airline to accept crypto

Ticket prices will be displayed in euros and customers will be able to make payments from over 100 wallets and in 13 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (BTC), Dogecoin (DOGE), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), Shiba Inu (SHIB) and others.

In this regard, Jesús Monzó, Vueling’s head of distribution strategy and alliances, said: 

“With this agreement, Vueling once again reaffirms its position as a digital airline. […] BitPay will bring Vueling’s customers the possibility of making transactions with cryptocurrencies with the greatest security and reliability”.

BitPay, via its vice president of marketing Merrick Theobald, also said:

“Vueling recognizes the potential of cryptocurrencies to transform the airline industry, making payments faster, more secure and less expensive on a global scale. Our goal at BitPay is to make the acceptance of cryptocurrencies a seamless process and increase its adoption, as we believe that cryptocurrencies are the future of payments”.

The case of Emirates Airline and Bitcoin (BTC), NFTs and Metaverse

Last month, Emirates Airline also said it would add Bitcoin (BTC) as a payment method. It will also use Metaverse and NFTs in the future to monitor customer needs and develop apps. 

Adel Ahmed Al-Redha, the company’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), said that Emirates Airline wants to ensure that the airline is aligned with Emirates’ vision for the digital economy. 

And yet, just today, according to Google Trends data, the search term “Bitcoin is Dead” reached an all-time high, hitting 100 out of 100 on 18 June. At the time of writing, BTC is worth $21,158, half its price three months ago.