NEWS
SITA Air Transport Community
announces innovation winners
T
he SITA Air Transport Community
Foundation, in partnership with Wits
University and the Tshimologong Precinct,
has awarded a US$10,000 prize to students
Jules Ntumba, Tso Mello and Fiona Ndlovu. Team One Exceptional and its members,
Jules Ntumba, Tso Mello and Fiona Ndlovu,
were awarded the top cash prize for their
winning idea, which was targeted at 50+ first
time travellers.
The group, one of seven finalists, was
shortlisted through a competition to address
what information, tools or technology first-
time air travellers in Africa need to make
their journeys easy, successful and enjoyable. “Young people don’t usually have difficulties
navigating around an airport, but an older,
potentially illiterate traveller will experience
challenges,” said Mello.
“It gets more difficult for them because they
are not as tech-savvy as younger people. Our
research showed that in Africa one out of
three people above the age of 50 can’t read
and we wanted to cater to them.”
From left: Jules Ntumba Tso
Mello and Fiona Ndlovu
Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at
SITA Air Transport Community Foundation,
Amber Harrison, said: “SITA’s focus is on
information technology and education in
Africa. We created this innovation award to
highlight the challenges and opportunities
for a continent that is seeing a changing
demographic, coupled with growth in
technology and aviation. The quality of
submissions was of a high standard and
it is encouraging to witness the brimming
innovation in South Africa.”
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Ethiopian Airlines app adds Alipay
through mobile payment platform
E
thiopian Airlines, the largest aviation
group in Africa and SkyTrax Four Star
Airline, has partnered with CellPoint to
accept payments via Chinese firm Alipay.
This is the first APM integration for CellPoint
Mobile as part of an ongoing partnership
with the flag carrier of Ethiopia.
“CellPoint Mobile has demonstrated its
commitment and knowledge of the Africa
region as a member of the African Airlines
Association (AFRAA), as well as its global
reach as a payment service provider,”
said Miretab Teklaye, Director Digital, at
Ethiopian Airlines.
“The Alipay integration is the first in our
PSP partnership in China and an important
step in our airline’s growth strategy for the
mobile channel.”
Earlier this year, Ethiopian Airlines and
CellPoint Mobile announced an ongoing
partnership that includes implementation
of the Velocity payment platform – a full
merchant-side payment control environment
built specifically for the travel industry.
Velocity’s comprehensive platform enables
immediate access to multiple PSPs,
acquirers and global consumer wallets
and APMs.
“By adding support for Alipay, Ethiopian
Airlines is strengthening its position not
only as the flag carrier of Ethiopia, but as
a leading airline for commercial air travel
within Africa,” said Ciaran Wilson, Senior
Sales & Account Director at CellPoint Mobile.
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