Travelers will be able to purchase airline tickets in Venezuela using cryptocurrencies in the near future. According to statements made by Freddy Borges, Director of the Maiquetía International Airport, the institution would be working to include cryptocurrencies such as dash, bitcoin, and the national petro as supported currencies in the airport’s payment system.
The adoption of cryptocurrency as a way of paying for airline tickets in Venezuela might be near. According to statements made by Freddy Borges, who is the director of the Maiquetía International Airport, the institution is working to adapt its payment system to receive some cryptocurrencies as payment for airline tickets and other services offered in the airport. In this sense, Borges stated that,“We will activate a button for cryptocurrency payments in the airport platforms and commercial activities, in coordination with Sunacrip.”
Among the mentioned cryptocurrencies that would be supported, the officer mentioned bitcoin, dash, and the national petro. Borges highlighted the importance of establishing these payment methods to facilitate the purchases of tourists that might come to the country in the future. He said that the airport must advance in the implementation of these new tools that the tourists might use.
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The use of these cryptocurrencies as payment methods will be regulated by Sunacrip, the national cryptocurrency watchdog. The Maiquetia International Airport is one of the most important civil airports in the country, receiving passengers from 17 different international destinations.
This is not the first time that cryptocurrencies are mentioned as possible payment methods for airline tickets in Venezuela. A national airline called Conviasa announced it would start selling tickets in Petros back in 2019. At that time, Joselit Ramirez, the national cryptocurrency superintendent stated these operations would be confirmed in less than two minutes.
Then, Turpial Airlines, another national airline, announced it would be accepting payment in bitcoin for tickets last August. The small airline, which operates with three Boeing planes, was one of the pioneering private airlines in announcing support for cryptocurrency payments.
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This announcement seems the result of what Nicolas Maduro, the president of the country, stated in January, when he stressed this would be the year for the “revival” of all cryptocurrency systems. However, inflation and devaluation have not stopped this year. On October 1, the Venezuelan government applied a redenomination of the fiat currency, slashing six zeros of its value to facilitate payments.
Kelechi Deca
Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry