Finavia Invests in Digital Services for Chinese Passengers

Jan. 4, 2017

Chinese passengers are the most rapidly growing customer group at Helsinki Airport. Being able to use a familiar payment method will further improve their service experience at the airport. Helsinki Airport is among the first airports in Europe to enable AliPay.

The first commercial operators at Helsinki Airport adopted the Chinese AliPay mobile payment application in December.

Helsinki Airport is among the first airports in Europe to enable AliPay.

AliPay can now be used to pay at the airport’s Iittala, M-Box, Finspiration, Lindroos and Moomin shop outlets. Finavia's intent is to have all airport's commercial operators accepting AliPay.

AliPay is a part of world’s largest online trading company Alibaba. AliPay is China's leading mobile payment giant which has approximately 400 million users according to its own website.

Chinese passengers a high priority for Finavia

Helsinki Airport has seen a sharp increase in the number of Chinese passengers in recent years. The number of Chinese passengers is expected to continue increasing for both transfer connections and overnight stays in Finland.

In Finland, Lapland is a particular attraction for Chinese tourists. Alibaba’s travel service provider AliTrip has announced that it will bring 50,000 Chinese tourists to Rovaniemi during 2017.

Finavia has responded by bringing Chinese-speaking service guides to Helsinki Airport and by adding signs in Chinese. In autumn 2016, the staff exchange program between Finavia and Beijing Airport helped increase knowledge of the Chinese service culture and the needs of Chinese travellers.

Helsinki Airport has an account Chinese social media channel Weibo. A WeChat account will be opened in 2017. Weibo has approximately 300 million and WeChat more than 800 million active monthly users.

Helsinki Airport is the leading hub for air traffic between Europe and Asia. It offers the fastest and shortest route between the continents.