Travel Service Providers Now Accept UnionPay Card Payments for Direct E-Commerce Bookings
Airlines can now control the payment experience across both direct and indirect booking channels.
This initiative also improves cash flow and customer loyalty for airlines by processing UnionPay card transactions directly.
Shanghai – According to the latest projection from ResearchAndMarkets, outbound travel from China is expected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 13.5%, rising from the current US$140 billion to US$386 billion by 2033. UnionPay International facilitates cardholders to make cross-border payments across 183 markets, with UnionPay payment methods proving particularly popular amongst travellers in the Asia-Pacific region. Consequently, the ability to accept UnionPay card payments directly has become crucial for airlines serving travellers from 85 countries and territories where UnionPay cards are issued.
Through a new partnership between Outpayce from Amadeus and UnionPay International, airlines using Outpayce’s Xchange Payments Platform for online payments on their direct payment channels can now accept UnionPay cards with standard systems. This direct method helps airlines generate additional revenue whilst optimising the payment experience for travellers through improved transaction success rates.
The Amadeus Travel Platform is a digital marketplace connecting travel service providers—such as airlines, hotels, car rental companies, and railway operators—with over 60,000 sellers. Through this partnership, travellers wishing to pay with UnionPay cards can be directed directly to the service provider to complete the transaction when making a booking.
With this new approach, travellers receive a payment experience similar to booking directly through an airline’s website, including access to various customer loyalty benefits typically only available for direct airline payments.
By processing payments directly, airlines can also enhance cash flow, as funds can be received more quickly. Additionally, airlines gain greater control over the payment experience on indirect booking channels. By implementing their own policies to prevent fraud and ensure transaction security, airlines increase payment acceptance whilst delivering a better experience for customers.
Bomme Sheng, Global Director at UnionPay International, stated: “UnionPay has established a strong presence in the payment ecosystem within the aviation industry. Through closer collaboration with Amadeus, UnionPay cards will be fully integrated into airline distribution technology, both on websites and through indirect channels. This further strengthens UnionPay’s travel payment ecosystem and drives the industry towards a more efficient and diverse system.”
Damian Alonso, Head of Product and Partnerships at Outpayce, said: “We are committed to delivering a seamless payment experience across every channel, regardless of which payment method travellers choose. With our payment platform approach, customers can pay with their preferred method easily and securely. Airlines can now provide the same payment experience to UnionPay cardholders, whether they book through Amadeus sellers or directly through the airline’s own channels, thereby maximising investment in payment mechanisms and optimising the entire customer experience.”
Following the ability to process UnionPay card payments directly, travellers can make payments directly to travel service providers using various major card networks when completing bookings through the Amadeus Travel Platform. Direct UnionPay card payment acceptance through the Outpayce Xchange Payments Platform will become available in the first half of 2026, and will be gradually rolled out across various markets throughout 2026 via the Amadeus Travel Platform.