National carrier RwandAir has partnered with Ecobank, Visa Rwanda and Global Travel Wallet to boost the country’s quest for a cashless economy.

The four companies last week launched a dream mile visa card that allows the passengers to earn miles and discounts as they purchase commodities using the card.

RwandAir’s dream mile programme was introduced in 2011 as a strategy to reward the airline’s loyal travellers.

The new RwandAir Dream Miles Loyalty Programme, according Jean Paul Nyirubutama, the acting chief executive, provides features and benefits that enhance value to its members while combining the functionality of a reloadable payment card with the benefits of dream miles membership.

"The card includes a reloadable prepaid visa account feature that lets travellers earn dream miles as they shop at visa merchants worldwide, a first of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa,” Nyirubutama told The New Times.

The reloadable visa prepaid card feature facilitates payments and currency exchange.

"The new card is a testimony to loyalty to the airlines’ customers; it allows passengers to earn miles while spending using the card,” he added.

The card, according to Lucy Mbabazi, the Visa Rwanda country manager, adds value to the country’s drive toward achieving a cashless economy.

"It is designed in a way that allows users to earn a dream mile with RwandAir for every Rwf5,000 spent,” Mbabazi said.

It equally allows convenience and efficiency, perfect ingredients for a cashless economy, she added.

Ndiaye Maareme Mbaye, the managing director of Ecobank Rwanda, said it was the first time a leading airline is entering into a partnership with a pan-African bank like Ecobank to create a unified payment and customer loyalty solution.

"Ecobank will continue to power flexible and convenient payment solutions to all travelers and its customers. The strategic alliance represents more than just provision of a unique product but also value to our customers,” Mbaye, said.

The partnership is a ground-breaking milestone as the loyalty card adds a reloadable visa prepaid card feature that lets travelers earn miles every transaction, including shopping at Visa merchants worldwide.

The RwandAir Dream Miles lLoyalty Programme started with about 5000 members and has since grown to 30,000.

Segun Oni, the managing director of Global Travel Wallet, said the product was designed with the customer in mind, to get a chance to win free tickets and discounts.

Respect for customers is critical for a successful business, he added.

The national carrier was this year recognised as one of the safest airlines by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) after passing the operational safety audit.

It later became a member of IATA, joining a club of 250 airlines in more than 150 countries.

RwandAir flies to more than 18 destinations.

As part its expansion strategy, the airline expects the delivery of two brand new triple class Airbus A330-200 and 300 next year for Asia and Europe flights.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw