Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD) is responding to growing Chinese passenger demand with the introduction of Alipay and China UnionPay at Heinemann Duty Free shops.

The arrival of the Chinese payment platforms come as BUD prepares to launch a three-times weekly service to Shanghai through Shanghai Airlines, adding to Air China’s existing connection to Beijing.

Other terminal partners are expected to benefit from the services later this year to capitalise on the airport’s growing exposure to Chinese visitors at commercial areas.

LOGICAL STEP

Ildikó Jankovich, Managing Director Heinemann Duty Free at Budapest Airport said: “Chinese travellers are a very important target group for us and we strive to provide an excellent shopping experience for them.

“[…] It is of great advantage to be able to use their choice of merchant, which they already use at home, without any currency exchange. It is a logical step for us to take advantage of the benefits that these convenient and safe payment methods offer for our customers.

“The payment process is the last stage of their shopping journey and an efficient final transaction procedure leaves a good impression of our brand which in turn contributes to loyalty towards Heinemann.”

Chinese tourists and business travellers at BUD are seeking high-quality brand purchases offered at competitive prices, together with speciality regional products such as Tokaji wines and Hungarian confectionery, explains Jankovich

This is good news for Heinemann Duty Free and other vendors, as BUD’s expanding Asia route network expects to yield 80,000 potential pax per annum.

Jost Lammers, CEO, Budapest Airport added: “It’s immensely rewarding to see the vision of a long-term project come together and introduce another direct link between Budapest and the Far East.

“To become one of the first airports in the region to also help promote our retailers to our Chinese guests is an important resource for us. Having the ability to now utilise China’s largest payment vendors, Alipay and China UnionPay at Heinemann Duty Free’s stores is a huge step forward.

“Coming just a few months after rolling out the BUD Airport Chinese Mobile app, we are well on the way to becoming a Chinese friendly airport.”