Qatar Airways, the national airline of the State of Qatar, has entered into a strategic partnership with one of the world's leading mobile money service providers, Vodacom, to launch a service that enables customers to pay for airfare with the M-Pesa service.

Travellers can book flights either online or at travel agents and use M-Pesa as a payment option, according to a press release.

"We are proud to be associated with Qatar Airways, one of the world's leading airlines," Vodacom Tanzania's Acting Managing Director Nina Pendaeli Eshun said in a statement. "Our goal is to remain relevant and responsive to market needs at all times. M-Pesa is about reach, access and convenience. That is why Vodacom customers travelling on Qatar airways can now purchase their tickets anytime and anywhere at the mere click of a button."

In order to pay, customers  go to the M-Pesa pay bill option, enter Qatar Airways' business number and insert their booking reference number and the amount quoted at time of the booking. Upon receipt of payment, the customer will receive an SMS confirmation and the e-ticket via email. The ticket may also be collected at Qatar Airways reservations or their airport office, according to the announcment.