Qatar Airways announced the extension of its partnership with international bank card network UnionPay to  31 countries and regions, providing a convenient payment option for even more Qatar Airways passengers around the world when booking tickets online.

Customers in countries including Qatar, Kuwait, India, Oman, Switzerland, Canada, Brazil and South Africa, will be able to take advantage of UnionPay’s secure payment option when booking tickets through the airline website.

The expansion of the agreement was signed recently at a special ceremony held at the UnionPay head office in Shanghai. Qatar Airways was represented by its Senior Vice President for Asia Pacific Marwan Koleilat, while UnionPay International Vice President Larry Wang represented the other party.

Under the expanded agreement, Qatar Airways and UnionPay will collaborate on various sales and marketing initiatives. Both parties will also look at creating new and exclusive co-branded card that will provide UnionPay customers exclusive benefits on selected products by Qatar Airways.

Koleilat said that the expansion will provide even more customers the opportunity to use UnionPay as their preferred payment option when booking tickets online, ensuring a convenient and hassle-free booking experience.

Wang, meanwhile, said that the expanded agreement with Qatar Airways will increase their acceptance rate in the airline industry. He said that the co-branded card will enhance the benefits they provide cardholders in the aviation industry, and will enhance UnionPay’s value proposition.

With about 90 million cards issued outside mainland China, UnionPay is offering payment convenience to a growing number of global customers. UnionPay is accepted in more than 10 million online merchants based in more than 200 countries and regions outside China.

Visit the Qatar Airways website for updates and more information about the exclusive co-branded card.