Airlines Reporting Corp has teamed up with UnionPay, enabling airlines to accept UnionPay credit cards as payment through the U.S. travel agency channel.
UnionPay is the world’s largest card-based form of payment, with about seven billion cards in circulation.
Cards are issued in more than 50 countries and accepted as payment in 171 countries and regions worldwide.
"ARC is committed to making it easy for airlines to offer customers their preferred payment method. With the addition of UnionPay as one of those options, many in the growing Chinese travel market will enjoy an improved customer experience," said Chuck Fischer, ARC’s managing director of payment strategy and industry relations.
UnionPay adoption is key for companies wishing to target the China market at scale, and numerous airlines and hotel groups have already adopted it as a form of payment in order to capture a share of the world’s largest outbound traveler market.
"UnionPay is pleased to partner with ARC to broaden acceptance of the UnionPay brand in the U.S. travel market. The U.S. is a critically important market for us as we continue to grow acceptance around the world," said UnionPay International’s general manager, America, June Chen.
