JetBlue Airways has announced plans to be the first major domestic carrier in the US to accept Apple Pay in the sky, making mobile payments at cruising altitude simple and speedy.

Apple Pay gives customers an easy and secure way to pay for onboard purchases of premium offerings.

Customers often already have their mobile phone in hand or nearby when the time comes to buy a snack or amenity.

Those with an iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and soon Apple Watch can use Apple Pay to purchase premium offerings such as EatUp snack boxes and à la carte food options from the EatUp Café, premium beverages, onboard amenities and Even More Space seating.

“The sky is definitely not the limit when it comes to mobile payments with Apple Pay,” said Marty St George, senior vice president, commercial, JetBlue.

“Customers want an easy and fast transaction when they decide to make an on-board purchase so that they can get back to enjoying their flight.”

JetBlue continues to offer customers the best onboard experience with free live seatback entertainment, complimentary Fly-Fi internet, the most legroom in coach and now the option to use Apple Pay.

Apple Pay will begin appearing on select JetBlue transcontinental flights from New York to Los Angeles and San Francisco in mid-February.

Apple Pay will roll out to additional flights beginning in March, with all JetBlue flights accepting Apple Pay by June.

Customers can ask their in-flight crewmembers if Apple Pay is available.

To enable Apple Pay in the air, JetBlue will deploy iPad minis and NFC-enabled cases to more than 3,500 in-flight crewmembers.

In addition to the cases with Apple Pay compatibility, each iPad mini will be loaded with a custom-designed iOS app - The Inflight Service Assistant - which will give in-flight crewmembers access to customer manifest and flight data to provide the best experience possible to JetBlue customers.

“JetBlue has always stood out because our crewmembers care about our customers,” said Joanna Geraghty, executive vice president, customer experience, JetBlue.

“By giving crewmembers thoughtful ways to use technology, we can support an even more personalised onboard experience with a perfect partnership of high tech and high touch.”

In addition to onboard purchases, JetBlue customers will be able use Apple Pay to complete purchases in JetBlue’s mobile iOS app later this year.

This initiative is the latest step in JetBlue’s use of mobile technology to offer a simple and enjoyable customer experience.

JetBlue recently launched automatic check-in, a technological innovation that removes the need for qualified customers to ever have to check in for their flights.

In 2013, JetBlue took the airline one step closer to a paperless cockpit by providing iPads to all of its pilots, offering real-time weather and updated safely and flight documents.