Spanish Airline Vueling to Accept Crypto Payment from 2023

Vueling S.A., a Spanish low-cost airline based in Greater Barcelona, says it will start accepting 13 different cryptocurrencies as payment for its flight service starting from 2023.

The airline listed the cryptocurrencies to include Bitcoin (BTC), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Dogecoin (DOGE), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), Shiba Inu (SHIB) and Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC), among others.

Tickets prices will be in Euros and customers will be able to pay for flights from more than 100 wallets, the airline further said, adding that the service will be available for individuals only.

Vueling, a part of the International Airlines Group, an Anglo-Spanish multinational airline holding company, announced the decision on Thursday in a statement.

The company explained that it has entered into an agreement with BitPay, the world's largest provider of Bitcoin and cryptocurrency payment services, to see to the move.

Additionally, Vueling intends to use the global payment solution of UATP, a platform operated by the global airlines to connect to alternative forms of payment.

In the statement, Jesús Monzó, the Manager of Distribution Strategy and Alliances at Vueling, noted the airline’s agreement with BitPay reaffirms its position as a digital airline.

“We are very pleased to have found in BitPay the best partner to offer our customers the possibility of making transactions with cryptocurrencies with the greatest security and reliability,” Monzó said.

On his part, Merrick Theobald, the Vice President of Marketing at BitPay, explained that Vueling recognizes the potential of cryptocurrencies to transform the airline industry by 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,” Theobald added.

Rachel Morowitz, UATP’s SVP Partner, Processing, noted that offering cryptocurrency as a form of payment to the public is “a must in this digital age of payments.”

“UATP and BitPay partnered to bring this option to the airline industry and is fulfilling the rising demand of Vueling's customers to pay with cryptocurrency,” Morowitz added.