Spring Airlines and Alipay sign strategic partnership on 'Tap-to-Pay' and AI smart travel
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On September 23, Spring Airlines and Ant Group's Alipay signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement in Shanghai to deepen their partnership. The collaboration focuses on integrating Alipay's 'Tap-to-Pay' (peng yixia) technology across Spring Airlines' check-in counters, ancillary services, and in-flight purchases, including an offline payment 2.0 system and in-flight 'Tap-to-Pay' for seamless passenger payments. The two companies will also build an 'aviation + ground transport + cultural tourism' ecosystem, leveraging Alipay's platform to connect travel chains and optimize one-stop intermodal travel experiences. Additionally, they will explore next-generation AI payment technologies and AI applications in aviation services, aiming to create an 'AI + Aviation' smart travel paradigm. Spring Airlines spokesperson Zhang Wu'an stated the airline views itself as an IT company first, emphasizing that this partnership marks a key transformation toward smart travel. Alipay VP Peng Yun highlighted the shared vision to digitally empower the civil aviation industry, enhancing safety and passenger experience.
Source report
Shanghai, September 23 — Spring Airlines Co., Ltd. and Ant Technology Group Co., Ltd. signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement in Shanghai, marking an upgrade in the partnership between Spring Airlines and Alipay. The two parties will collaborate around the "Tap!" (碰一下) feature and the enhancement of the full-chain air travel ecosystem, jointly creating a new paradigm for next-generation smart travel services under the "AI + Aviation" model.
Signing Ceremony Attendees
The strategic cooperation signing ceremony was attended by:
- Peng Yun, Vice President of Alipay, Ant Group
- Zhang Wu'an, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Spokesperson, Spring Airlines Co., Ltd.
- Wan Peng, General Manager of Digital Travel, Hotel & Tourism Business Unit, Alipay
- Zheng Liangang, General Manager of Marketing Department, Spring Airlines Co., Ltd.
Scope of Cooperation
Spring Airlines announced that Alipay's "Tap!" innovative payment and service system will be comprehensively and deeply applied across:
- Spring Airlines check-in counters
- Offline ancillary service payments
- In-flight purchases and services
This will facilitate the rollout of convenient products and services, including offline in-flight payment 2.0 and in-flight "Tap!" capabilities, ensuring seamless payment experiences for passengers.
Full-Chain Air Travel Ecosystem
The partnership will also focus on building an integrated air travel ecosystem by leveraging Alipay's years of accumulated travel service resources and unified platform. This will connect the "aviation + ground transportation + cultural tourism" travel chain, bridging online and offline passenger touchpoints across the entire travel journey. The goal is to comprehensively optimize the one-stop intermodal travel experience for Spring Airlines customers.
Next-Generation AI Payment
In addition, both parties will engage in deep cooperation around next-generation AI payment, exploring the application of AI technology within Spring Airlines' service scenarios to jointly develop a new generation of smart travel services under the "AI + Aviation" model.
Digital Tools and Passenger Services
Leveraging their respective experience and advantages in air travel services and internet digital technology, Spring Airlines and Alipay will also strengthen the development and construction of digital application tools, such as Alipay mini-program user itinerary message notifications, to build a more convenient and comfortable passenger service system.
Executive Statements
Zhang Wu'an, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Spokesperson of Spring Airlines, stated:
"Spring Airlines is first an IT company, and second an airline." Through the "Tap!" cooperation with Alipay and the joint construction of the full-chain travel ecosystem, Spring Airlines will provide passengers with more convenient, intelligent, and heartfelt travel services. This cooperation represents a key transformation for Spring Airlines toward smart travel services, using technology to make every flight warmer and more efficient.
Peng Yun, Vice President of Alipay, Ant Group, commented:
"The civil aviation industry is one that demands high reverence — it concerns safety, experience, and the travel expectations of millions of passengers. This deep collaboration between our two sides is based on a strong alignment of shared visions. We hope to empower the civil aviation industry with digital technology and jointly witness the innovative breakthroughs of China's civil aviation sector in the digital era."
Source
上观新闻Eastern