El Salvador’s widespread acceptance of Bitcoin (BTC) has led to the local subsidiary of Volaris, a low-cost Mexican airline, accepting Bitcoin as payment. A month ago, Volaris’ local subsidiary was granted authorization to operate in El Salvador by the country’s aviation authority.
El Salvador’s President Niyab Bukele announced on Twitter that the airline will now accept Bitcoin as a form of payment for tickets. President Bukele said recently at a Volaris event on Twitter that the option to pay using Bitcoin and the government-run Chivo wallet “allows us to expand the availability of flights for Salvadorans.”
The administration of Bukele continues to provide incentives to its people to pay with Bitcoin, including gasoline subsidies. An unrealized Bitcoin gain of $4 million had previously been spent in infrastructure development projects including a veterinarian hospital by the government.
Ya tenemos aerolínea salvadoreña, de bajo costo y que acepta #Bitcoin
🌋🛫🇸🇻 @viajaVolaris pic.twitter.com/mMqzxtOYhA
— Nayib Bukele 🇸🇻 (@nayibbukele) October 20, 2021
According to reports, a Venezuelan airport plans to follow in the footsteps of El Salvador and accept cryptocurrency in exchange for airline tickets and other services. The National Superintendence of Crypto Assets and Related Activities, in collaboration with Simón Bolvar International Airport, aims to allow crypto payments as a way to meet local industry requirements.
The airport will allow payment in Bitcoin, Dash (DASH), and Petro, a government-issued oil-backed cryptocurrency, according to airport director Freddy Borges. Borges said that “we must progress in these new economic and technical systems to be accessible” as a commitment to driving bitcoin adoption.
