BANGKOK, THAILAND - In today’s hyper-connected world, airports can take a toll on the traveller. Have you ever wondered why, after queuing to check a bag in, you have to walk to an airline ticket office to pay for excess luggage or a flight upgrade? This usual scenario is because shared check-in desks cannot accommodate the specific payment needs of multiple airlines and ground handlers. Faced with this situation, the traveller might think twice before bothering to pay for extra legroom at all.
Airport payments will soon become much smoother as Amadeus and Ingenico launch Amadeus Airport Pay, the first wireless payment solution in the industry which accepts EMV[1] chip card payments and can be used by multiple airlines and ground handlers and multiple banks.
With Amadeus Airport Pay airlines and ground handlers can now reach any passenger with an EMV chip card or an EMV-compliant mobile wallet in any airport worldwide, regardless of the check-in infrastructure; this means airlines worldwide can deploy quickly. As a result, airlines can convert more ancillary sales by offering travellers a fast and secure payment method that overcomes the inconveniences generally faced by travellers nowadays at airports. Because Amadeus Airport Pay is not bound to any physical infrastructure, airlines and ground handlers can take payments anywhere in the airport.
At the beginning of June, Lufthansa Group, as the launch partner, will start rolling out the solution at check-in desks and ticket offices in over 170 airports around the globe, improving the airport experience for travellers by providing seamless and secure payment options without disrupting their travel journey.
“To bring secure and seamless payment options to our passengers to ease their individual and seamless travel experience is a core objective for the Lufthansa Group. Amadeus Airport Pay enables our travellers to choose customised ancillary services for their flight while checking in or at the gate – securely and with a variety of payment options, and without the need for detours”, said Kai Schilb, Head of Payment at Lufthansa Group Hub Airlines.
“Besides, as an IT solution, Amadeus Airport Pay gives the Lufthansa Group full control over its payment infrastructure by enabling connections with a wide range of payment providers. We look forward to bringing this service to our airport check in desks and ticket offices in more than 170 airports very soon,” added Philipp Vetten, Team Management Payment Projects at Lufthansa Group.
Amadeus also makes it easy for airlines and ground handlers to connect to the banks of their choice. Amadeus Airport Pay can be fully integrated in the airline’s sales flow, meaning payments are faster, more accurate and automatically accounted for.
“Payments in the airport have taken a big step forward towards convenience, security and flexibility with Amadeus Airport Pay. We are proud to be working with Lufthansa to improve their passengers’ airport experience worldwide,” commented Celia Pereiro, head of Travel Payments at Amadeus. “Travellers will have the peace of mind that their payments are secured thanks to EMV technology. Airlines and ground handlers meanwhile can open the door to a much smoother trip - imagine roaming agents approaching you while queuing to offer the ancillary service you need - it’s a win-win for the airline and the traveller.”
Miguel Angel Hernandez, Managing Director Ingenico Iberia said, “We are proud to join forces with Amadeus to provide an integrated solution that benefits from a truly international reach, is compliant with security standards and available with our full catalogue of payment terminals. Pocket-sized and supporting all wireless connectivity options, Amadeus Airport Pay will bring real mobility to airport payments and improve the passenger experience.”
With over 5bn chip cards in circulation globally, EMV has cemented its place as the leading card-present payment technology. EMV represents a significant improvement in the way payment card fraud is detected and prevented, as EMV cards will have enhanced anti-fraud capabilities at the physical point of sale. At airports, EMV terminals are ubiquitous in duty-free shops but still a rarity in airline check-in desks.
