"Pobeda", Utair, and Smartavia have started accepting digital rubles for air ticket payments. Now, when purchasing a ticket on the websites of these three airlines, passengers can choose the digital ruble as a payment method and then scan a QR code through their bank's application. This is evidenced by information on the carriers' websites.

This option was previously launched by Aeroflot. On September 1, an air ticket was actually paid for with digital rubles for the first time in Russia.

The digital ruble is a new form of the Russian national currency. It exists in addition to the familiar cash and non-cash rubles.

Using digital rubles is voluntary. For Russians, transactions with them are completely free, said Alla Bakina, Director of the National Payment System Department of the Bank of Russia.

From September 1, a digital wallet can be opened in 12 of the largest Russian banks. They account for more than 80% of the payment market.

These include Sberbank, VTB, Gazprombank, Alfa-Bank, T-Bank, PSB, Rosselkhozbank, Unicredit Bank, Raiffeisenbank, Sovcombank, MKB, and Dom.RF Bank.

This opportunity will also appear for several credit organizations recognized as significant in the payment services market.

Currently, digital rubles can be used to pay in large retail chains with annual revenues exceeding 120 million rubles.