Press release from Business Wire
Swipe No More - US Airways Becomes World's First Airline to Accept MasterCard® PayPass™ –Enabled Cards and Devices In-Flight
<p class='bwalignc'> <i>Passengers Provided Faster, More Convenient Contactless Payment Solution with GuestLogix Point-of-Sale Devices</i> </p>
Monday, December 03, 2012
Swipe No More - US Airways Becomes World's First Airline to Accept MasterCard® PayPass™ –Enabled Cards and Devices In-Flight11:06 EST Monday, December 03, 2012
PURCHASE, N.Y. (Business Wire) -- Leading the way for the next-generation of in-flight payment acceptance,
MasterCard has taken contactless payments 30,000 feet off the ground.
The Company today announced US Airways has become the first airline in
the world to accept MasterCard PayPass™ -enabled cards and
devices for in-flight purchases. Enabled by GuestLogix (TSX:GXI), the
travel industry's leader in onboard retail technology, US Airways
passengers can now buy food, beverages and other services by simply
tapping their MasterCard PayPass-enabledcard and devices
helping to speed up transaction times and provide increased convenience.
“MasterCard has been at the forefront of contactless payment
innovations, bringing the convenience and speed of PayPass technology to
environments where faster transactions are essential for both consumers
and merchants,” said Dave Meadon, group head of Global Chip Solutions &
Engineering, MasterCard. ”With the broad acceptance of
electronic payments, consumers today can travel virtually cash free,
eliminating the hassle of carrying cash and without having to fumble
through their wallet or purse for exact change.”
“At US Airways, we are always looking for ways to enhance the service we
provide to our customers,” said Hector Adler, vice president, Inflight
Services for US Airways. “With this new solution, our crew has the
technology they need to provide faster service for our MarketPlace®
onboard offerings of food, drinks & more.”
With a finite period of time available for Flight Attendants to offer
food, beverage or service of other retail offerings onboard, enabling
MasterCard PayPass™ acceptance will quicken the time it takes to
process card payments in-flight.
“US Airways has been an extremely forward-looking customer throughout
our four-year relationship, so it comes as no surprise that they were
the first to adopt this new technology,” said GuestLogix President &
CEO, Brett Proud. “Contactless payments are ideal for both passenger and
Flight Attendant convenience as the transaction time is significantly
reduced when using MasterCard PayPass.”
With MasterCard PayPass, US Airways passengers simply tap their PayPass-enabled
MasterCard card or device on a PayPass-accepting reader. US
Airways can offer its passengers the convenience of faster transaction
times and increased limits for signature-less transactions. MasterCard PayPass
is particularly useful within several merchant categories where speed
and convenience are essential, such as quick-service restaurants,
retail, airports, vending machines, and taxis.
For more information MasterCard's PayPass technology visit: http://www.paypass.com/About MasterCard Worldwide
MasterCard
(NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com,is
a global payments and technology company. It operates the world's
fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial
institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210
countries and territories. MasterCard's products and solutions make
everyday commerce activities – such as shopping, traveling, running a
business and managing finances – easier, more secure and more efficient
for everyone. Follow us on Twitter @MasterCardNews,
join the discussion on the Cashless
Conversations Blog and subscribe
for the latest news.
About US Airways
US Airways, along with US Airways Shuttle and US Airways Express,
operates nearly 3,200 flights per day and serves more than 200
communities in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe, the Middle East, the
Caribbean, Central and South America. The airline employs more than
32,000 aviation professionals worldwide, operates the world's largest
fleet of Airbus aircraft and is a member of the Star Alliance network,
which offers its customers more than 21,500 daily flights to 1,356
airports in 193 countries. Together with its US Airways Express
partners, the airline serves approximately 80 million passengers each
year and operates hubs in Charlotte, N.C., Philadelphia and Phoenix, and
a focus city in Washington, D.C. at Ronald Reagan Washington National
Airport.
MasterCardSarah Ely, 914-249-6714sarah_ely@mastercard.com
