Low-fare US carrier Southwest Airlines introduces handheld credit card readers onboard all its flights and will no longer be accepting cash as payment for products such as cocktails, alcoholic and energy drinks. The new devices allow flight attendants to process customer orders faster and accept both credit and debit cards.

The new system will take effect starting 9 September. The card reader device was chosen following a feedback session from Southwest Airlines’ flight attendants and employees, which decided on the use of a GuestLogix software service. The company has expressed its hopes that the new payment system will help increase the quality of its onboard services and cut back on customer waiting time and delays.