Alipay & WeChat Pay services arrive at Frankfurt Airport

By Luke Barras-hill |

Far_WeChat18

A customer uses an app to scan a QR code and enter the payment amount in technology supported by Wirecard.

Frankfurt Airport (FRA) passengers can now use their mobiles to pay for retail purchases using popular mobile payment apps Alipay and WeChat Pay.

As reported, Wirecard has struck an agreement with Gebr. Heinemann to deliver the most popular mobile payment platforms to its domestic airports.

Authorised at 100 tills in all 28 of Gebr. Heinemann’s Frankfurt Airport Retail (FAR) joint-venture stores, both mobile apps allow the users to scan a QR code and enter the payment amount for the goods.

FAR uses technology from a Wirecard app to embed Alipay and WeChat Pay into the tillpoint.

CHINESE TOURIST APPEAL

The technology is of particular interest to young, affluent Chinese tourists, who can avoid currency exchange impacts by using their chosen platform.

Previously, Chinese tourists tended to rely on China Union Pay credit cards to make purchases in FAR stores, says FRA.

“The mobile payment methods of Alipay and WeChat Pay available at Frankfurt Airport make us even more attractive to the Chinese travellers, a very important target group for us,” said Georg Fuhrmann, Managing Director of FAR. “In addition to this, the platforms are opening up completely new possibilities for addressing customers directly and for advertising attractive purchasing incentives in the form of discounts and extra benefits.”

Alongside paying for fashion and accessories, the mobile payment solutions can also be used at Heinemann’s Travel Value outlets, which typically offer travel retail exclusives such as spirits, perfumes and cosmetics or confectionery.

Heinemann_WechatFAR18

The mobile payment solution app will roll out to Heinemann Duty Free and Travel Value shops in 12 airports.

 

Asia & Pacific

Asia Pacific Travel Retail Awards: The Winners

TRBusiness and m1nd-set can today (13 March) reveal the winners of the 2024 Travel Retail...

The Americas

Details emerge of JFK T1 commercial programme and duty free tender

Qualified travel retail operators are being invited to participate in a request for proposals...

International

JCDecaux research offers major passenger insights

New research insights from Ipsos UK compiled for JCDecaux provide a revised outlook of air...

image description

In the Magazine

TRBusiness Magazine is free to access. Read the latest issue now.

E-mail this link to a friend