Payment is the last step… and the most critical
In the airline industry, the purchasing experience usually focuses on prices, routes and schedules. However, the checkout is where the sale is truly decided.
A friction at this stage (card declines, credit limits, etc.) can turn a determined customer into a lost purchase.
The Real Problem: Checkout Friction
- High-value tickets (family trips, long-haul, business travel)
- Group purchases
- Frequent card limits
- International users with different payment methods
- High sensitivity to abandonment at the final step
In travel overall, cart abandonment is around 85%.
The Economic Impact: Small Percentages, Big Numbers
The aviation sector moves billions every year.
According to forecasts from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the global airline industry continues to grow in both profits and passenger numbers.
- A +1% increase in conversion can equal millions of additional euros annually.
- A −1% decrease in checkout abandonment has a direct impact on EBITDA.
- Recovering declined payments can mean revenue that was already commercially “won”.
Beyond Split Payments: What Flexible Payments Really Mean
Flexibility is not just about allowing two cards. It means offering an ecosystem that adapts to the user.
Direct Benefits for Airlines:
- Higher conversion – every friction removed is a sale recovered.
- Fewer failed payments – fewer card limits = fewer losses at the final step.
- Improved user experience – payment no longer “gets in the way”.
- Higher average ticket size – it is easier to purchase higher-value flights when payment can be split.
- Competitive advantage
In short: checkouts that offer multi-card or group payment options can achieve conversion rates above 95% on card-initiated purchases.
Airlines that adopt flexible payment solutions do not just modernise their checkout; they protect revenue, increase conversion and improve brand perception.
The data already shows that this trend is not theoretical.
