TravelX, the company developing the travel industry’s first blockchain-based distribution protocol, announced a collaboration with Air Europa, Spain’s third-largest airline with flights to over 60 destinations worldwide, to launch the world’s first NFT (non-fungible token) flight ticket series, or “NFTickets.”
Owners will receive access to a special Air Europa flight to Miami Beach on November 29th, 2022, as well as perks and events leading up to the Americas’ premier art show, which will be held in Miami Beach this December. A series of NFTickets (10) will be released every 14 days through the auction platform travelxchange.com/, with the first-ever available during a live auction on April 11 at 4 p.m. EST.
“Innovation is in our DNA, we have been pioneers in applying new technologies within our industry and it can not be different with NFTs, which could be the next step in the travel industry. We are proud to be the first airline to adopt blockchain technology for inventory management and distribution. We’re excited to see where this could take travel as a whole and how it could improve customer experience.”
Bernardo Botella, Global Sales Director at Air Europa
Individually, NFTickets are as rare as traditional NFTs. Transactions are recorded safely and securely on the blockchain when they are traded. When the owner is ready to use the NFT, a matching flight ticket will be issued. Buyers of TravelX and Air Europa NFTickets will be able to own a piece of travel industry history and take part in the first-ever blockchain-backed flight.
The “The Art as the Destination” NFTicket series is curated by Ximena Caminos, who commissioned acclaimed multidisciplinary artist Carlos Betancourt for the first piece. His artworks explore memory and his own experiences, as well as nature, the environment, and issues of beauty, identity, and communication. Carlos Betancourt’s work can be found in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.
“Artists are intrigued by discovery, exploration,” said Betancourt. “The same is with technology. With this piece, I’m experimenting with the boundaries of art and technology. The animated artwork is inspired by concepts of space, magical realms and travel experiences, as well as by the memories and feelings these experiences evoke. It’s very exciting to give birth to a new kind of NFT, minted on Algorands carbon-negative blockchain. We will blend the best of the traditional NFT, but add real-world application and experience. This provides a better flight ticket that travelers can easily manage and trade from their blockchain wallet, combined with a new kind of collectible art piece. We believe NFTickets will be the perfect fusion of art, travel, and technology.“
Facundo Diaz, Co-Founder of TravelX
To commemorate the occasion, TravelX is hosting an invite-only event at the Eiffel Tower on April 12, in conjunction with Paris NFT Day (April 12) and Paris Blockchain Week (April 13-14), where the winning bid for the first-ever NFTicket will be revealed.