Air tickets can now be bought via handsets in Zambia thanks to a partnership agreement being struck up between local airline Proflight Zambia and mobile network Airtel.

Airtel Zambia customers will be able to pay for Proflight air tickets using mobile money service Airtel Money.

The partnership means that Proflight Zambia has become the first airline in the country to offer mobile payment option.

Airtel Money director Brenda Thole said the telecommunications sector and airline industry are working hard to bringing about innovation.

“The partnership is a reflection of the synergies that exists between airlines and telecommunication companies across Africa in bringing innovations across the two industries,” Thole said.

She said the number of customers who have accounts with Airtel Money have increased to over 1.2 million accounts, which she said was milestone.

Meanwhile, Airtel Zambia says it has about five million subscribers.