Among all airlines, Eithad Airways became the first airline to use the Jaywan card for flight booking; it only allows UAE-based customers to use the country’s domestic payment card scheme to book online flight tickets directly through the airline website across the full global network.
Through this development, a UAE traveller has another local payment option for international air travel and expands the use of Jaywan into the aviation sector. The scheme, managed by AI Etihad Payment under the subsidy of the Central Bank of the UAE, was officially launched in July 2026 as the country’s national domestic card scheme
Customers booking through etihad.com can select Jaywan during checkout and complete payment directly with their card. The integration follows a broader partnership between Etihad and Al Etihad Payments that was agreed in October 2025.
The airline said the current payment integration is the first stage of a wider collaboration. Etihad Guest members holding Jaywan Royal cards are expected to receive additional travel-related benefits, including exclusive discounts on Comfort and Deluxe fares as well as priority access privileges. These benefits are due to be introduced soon.
Mark Potter, Managing Director of Etihad Guest at Etihad Airways, said the airline’s adoption of Jaywan gives customers greater flexibility in how they pay for travel. He added that the partnership is expected to develop further, with additional rewards planned for Etihad Guest members using Jaywan Royal cards.
Andrea Cianchetti, Chief Products Officer at Al Etihad Payments, said the agreement creates another everyday use for Jaywan by enabling cardholders to pay for airline tickets directly.
The move comes as banks and licensed financial institutions continue rolling out Jaywan cards across the UAE. It also supports the country’s wider effort to increase acceptance of the domestic payment network across sectors, including tourism.
The UAE Tourism Council is also planning to expand Jaywan acceptance among tourism establishments and develop packages linked to resident benefit programmes, supporting greater domestic tourism spending.
