Convenience and Speed of Payment Transaction is Shaping the Airport Shopping Experience

Ahead of the UK’s busiest travel period with almost one million passengers arriving or departing on 5,400 flights between 21st – 25th December, new consumer research conducted by payments innovator FreedomPay, reveals our latest shopping and payment habits. The research identifies the types of goods purchased at airports, spending levels, as well as behaviour and attitudes to types of payment methods used by travellers.

The study involving 2,500 adults suggests that when it comes to airport shopping, ease of payment and speed of transaction are two of the most important factors influencing their experience during the average of 29 minutes spent shopping at the airport.

Whilst traditional methods of payment remain popular with debit cards taking the top slot at 38%, cash is a close second at 28% and credit cards at 22%. The use of e-payment devices is more popular amongst 18-24 year olds. Nearly 1 in 4 (22%) of the people within this age group prefer mobile payments and wearables as a means of payment, compared to only 4% of those aged 55 years above.

Results highlighted in the report also include:

· Air travellers in the UK tend to spend an average of £62 per person at airports. Men on average spend nearly 20% more than women and spending levels spike amongst 25-34 year olds. People in Scotland tend to spend more (average of £82) at airports than any other region in the UK.

· When at the airport, UK travellers tend to focus their spending across restaurants, drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), books and magazines, beauty and fragrance and confectionary. Spending on toys, gifts, luxury items, fashion and beauty were most popular with travellers aged under 34 year olds.

Tony Hammond, Managing Director of FreedomPay Europe, commented:

“This new research clearly shows that passengers want speed of payment and convenience when it comes to airport shopping. Retailers including restaurants and coffee shops have a huge opportunity to increase their sales with the right technology and to enhance their consumer experience simply by transforming their digital payment platforms to enable hassle-free, secure and fast transactions no matter how the consumer chooses to pay.

“FreedomPay operates in more than 100 major airports in the U.S. and we are now in the UK, offering one of the first open customer-centric commerce platforms to help merchants of all sizes transform their digital platforms and enable all types of payments whether for contactless in duty-free, pay-at-table in restaurants or loyalty in coffee shops.”

I’ve also attached stock images to accompany the publication. For further information about the research and FreedomPay, please find the press release attached and contact freedompay@fwdconsulting.co.uk for any question you may have.