Payments are becoming a critical pillar of airline retailing. With the rapid proliferation of payment methods and service providers, airlines face increasing complexity in delivering seamless, secure, and customer-friendly payment experiences. To address these challenges, IATA has launched the Payments Strategic Partnerships Program, creating a collaborative platform for airlines and payment industry leaders to shape the future of airline payments.
Why Payments Matter More Than Ever
Presenting the right payment option at the right time can significantly improve authorization success rates, boost payment conversion, and enhance customer satisfaction.
Airlines are navigating a fast-evolving landscape of consumer and corporate payment methods, new technologies, and regulatory requirements. The new program aims to ensure a fit-for-purpose, future-proof payment offering for the industry.
What the Program Offers
Strategic Partners in the Payments Area of Involvement will gain unique opportunities to:
- Engage with airline payment decision-makers to address industry-specific challenges.
- Participate in the annual Airline Industry Payment Day, the premier forum for aviation payments stakeholders.
- Collaborate on the design and optimization of new payment flows and messages, including modernized architectures aligned with Offers and Orders transformation.
- Stay ahead of emerging trends through regular webinars, touchpoint calls, and direct interaction with IATA subject matter experts.
Focus Areas
The program will explore key topics shaping the airline payment ecosystem:
- Airline pain points and needs in payment
- Consumer (mainly for direct-to-customers sales) and corporate payments (for direct-to -customers and intermediated sales).
- Distribution and payment standards (including payment ISO-based frameworks).
- New product innovations and technologies
- Digital payments and new emerging payment instruments
Driving Industry Change
The Airline Industry Payment Day, held annually, will serve as the cornerstone event for this initiative. Here, airlines and partners will work together to:
- Enhance end-to-end payment process efficiency for cards and instant payments.
- Enable innovative payment solutions through new architectures and modernized messages.
- Contribute to the delivery of the Industry Payments Roadmap, ensuring readiness for Offers and Orders migration and beyond.
Benefits for Strategic Partners
Joining the Payments Area of Involvement offers unique advantages:
- Networking: Connect with global airline payment leaders, technology innovators, and IATA experts through events, webinars and exploratory discussions.
- Visibility: Gain recognition via the IATA Strategic Partner Stamp, inclusion in the online directory, and promotion through newsletters reaching thousands of industry stakeholders.
- Thought Leadership: Participate in discussions and collaborative projects that define the future of airline payments.
Interested in joining? Check out the Strategic Partnerships Payments page.
Author: Philippe Truchet, Head Industry Payment Programs Strategy and Adoption, IATA
