An Alipay user pays through a bar code scanned from his mobile phone. (Photo : Getty Images)
Finland's flag carrier Finnair will be using Alibaba's online payment platform Alipay to allow travelers to purchase in-flight products and services.
This is the first time for any airline to use e-payment for in-flight shopping, Reuters reported. The test-run will be available for flights between Shanghai and Helsinki.
"As the number of travelers grows between Asia and Northern Europe, the need for a familiar and convenient payment platform has never been greater," Finnair's chief digital officer Katri Harra-Salonen, said in a statement, reported Reuters.
Alipay has made several foreign partnerships to cater to the growing number of outbound Chinese travelers.
The platform currently has more than 450 million active users in China.
The online payment service is being adopted by other international airlines but only for website booking purposes.
An affiliate of China's e-commerce giant Alibaba, Alipay is looking to gain a better foothold in the growing e-payment industry.
Mobile payment industry is predicted to witness immense growth over the next two years. Market analyst Gartner said that 50 percent of consumers in mature markets will be using their smartphones or wearables for such purchases by 2018.
"Innovation in apps, mobile devices and mobile services are impacting traditional business models, particularly in the way people use personal technology for productivity and pleasure," said Amanda Sabia, principal research analyst at Gartner.
"Product managers must understand who their customers are for these new devices and services, and how the products are being used. Knowing your customer is imperative in order to capture a fair share of spending opportunities in this dynamic marketplace," Sabia added.
Aside from Alipay, one of the most popular forms of mobile payment in China is through the WeChat app. This uses a QR code to transfer a certain amount from the user's WeChat Wallet.
