PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA: Malaysia Airlines (MAS) is in discussions with more banks to provide additional payment modes to its customers worldwide.

This follows the success of the national carrier's partnerships with Maybank and CIMB Bank since May by which clients of the two banks can pay for their tickets online without using credit cards.

"We are looking at giving our customers additional payment modes in order to simplify their air travel transactions," said MAS network and revenue management senior general manager Datuk Bernard Francis.

Francis said MAS was in talks with three other banks in Malaysia and several others in the Asean region on similar partnerships.

On its partnership with Maybank and CIMB Bank, Francis said once bookings were finalised, customers would be guided to the online payment option page where they could authorise payments to be debited directly from their bank account.

"This will encourage more customers to buy online as it is more cost effective, and travellers can view, select and purchase value-for-money deals from the airline from the comfort of their homes and workplace," he told reporters at a news conference here yesterday.

"At the global level, we are in discussions with big financial institutions, especially those with branches around the world," he said, adding that MAS was soon introducing over-the-counter payments through its partnered financial institutions locally and globally.

It is learnt that the exercise is to further strengthen the airline's distribution network.

Since its e-ticketing service was wholly implemented in May, MAS has seen nearly three million hits a month, equivalent to RM100mil in online ticketing sales.

The carrier aims to do 60% of its transactions online by 2010.