Flybondi, a low-cost airline in Argentina, became the first in its industry to launch flight tickets in the form of non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
The initiative, called Ticket 3.0, is already available for customers who wish to fly to national destinations.
Remove the usual restrictions
The company Announced on their website that each ticket purchased will be issued as an NFT on the Algorand blockchain. The integration is an expansion of Flybondi’s existing partnership with TravelX.
Ticket 3.0 allows customers to rename the pass, gift it, or transfer it to someone else. As such, it removes the usual hurdles when one tries to change ownership. Commenting on the development, CEO Mauricio Sana said:
“With Ticket 3.0, our passengers will have greater flexibility and control over their trips because they will be able to transfer, rename or gift their tickets in a simple and autonomous way.
With this launch we seek to generate a positive impact in the aviation industry through innovation and the application of blockchain technology. Changing the rules of the game is never easy, but we know that our goal is to evolve and offer our passengers a new stage of the freedom to fly.”
Flybondi’s effort comes at a time when the tourism sector is trying to recover after the global COVID-19 lockdown suspended much of transport for years. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Buenos Aires, the airline flies to 13 destinations. In addition to covering some famous local spots, it began operating flights between the capital of Argentina and Rio de Janeiro in October 2019.
Crypto’s relationship with the airline sector
The cryptocurrency industry has already interacted with multiple airlines, the Emirates of Dubai being one example. The national airline of the United Arab Emirates launched NFTs and “thrilling experiences in the metaverse” for its customers and employees last spring. Besides, revealed their plans to adopt bitcoin as a payment method.
One of Spain’s largest airlines, Vueling, partnered with BitPay several months later to enable crypto deals as well. Their offering includes 13 digital assets, such as Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Dogecoin (DOGE), Shiba Inu (SHIB), and more.
BitPay Vice President of Marketing – Merrick Theobald – fixed that Vueling “recognizes the potential of cryptocurrencies to transform the airline industry, making payments faster, more secure and less expensive on a global scale.”
Binance Free $100 (Exclusive) – Use this link to sign up to receive $100 free and 10% off your first month’s fees for Binance Futures (terms).
PrimeXBT Special Offer: Use this link to sign up and enter the code CRYPTOPOTATO50 to receive up to $7,000 on your deposits.