Ryanair Adds Chip&Pin to Check-in Kiosks

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Ingenico will help Ryanair deploy cross-border payment solutions for their unattended check-in kiosks. During their roll-out of unattended check-in kiosks at the main Ryanair bases in Europe, they needed to find a cross-border payment solution which would enable them to connect with the acquiring bank in any territory across Europe.
 
Ingenico manages the communications end-to-end using its Axis transaction management system and i3300 PIN pads. Axis operates cross-border, as a centralised system that is hosted by Ingenico in secure data centres. This solution is fully-secured and operates under PCI DSS security rules, as well as those set by Visa and Mastercard, with fast transactions of between one and three seconds.
 
The Ingenico Axis solution provides an easy and convenience payment method to Ryanair’s customers whilst reducing the necessity for outsourced check-in staff and increasing profits for Ryanair. At these chip and pin enabled kiosks, passengers can purchase optional services like priority boarding when they arrive at the airport.

The addition of chip and pin, which Ingenico claims makes Ryanair check-in kiosks the first self-service passenger kiosks with chip and pin technology, also creates opportunities for generating extra revenue through the offering of further services such as pre-paid gift cards, mobile top-ups or dynamic currency conversion. This should negate any need to go to the manned desk in preference to the kiosk.
 
The payment system will initially be installed at the London Stansted kiosks and then to Barcelona (Girona), Belfast, Frankfurt (Hahn) and Marseille. As part of a three-year contract with Ryanair, Ingenico provides a complete transaction management for the initial roll-out of 250 kiosks, with plans to expand to 450 kiosks.
 
Philippe Lazare, CEO, Ingenico comments, “We continue to expand our international footprint, and are dedicated to ensuring that customers and retailers have access to the highest levels of convenience, security and simplicity in their transactions.”
 
Ryanair’s Stephen McNamara, Head of Communications, elaborates, “Ryanair has already begun the move to 100% online check‐in which will remove all check‐in desks from our 146 airports by October when all passengers will check‐in online and use baggage drop points to deposit their hold baggage. We are upgrading and installing self service kiosks to ensure passengers can still purchase the services they require when they arrive at the airport. Our partnership with Ingenico will help us to provide a secure and convenient payment method for passengers who want to purchase services such as priority boarding or hold baggage before they board their low fares Ryanair flight.”
 
“The Ryanair kiosks are unique in the airline field, as they have integrated payment mechanisms, which enable both chip and PIN as well as magnetic stripe payments to be made at the terminals, in a fully PCI (PCI-PED, PCI-DSS) compliant payment solution,” said Cillian Wright, Business Development Director, Ingenico. “This gives customers the peace of mind that transactions will be processed to the highest security standards. The provision of managed payment services provides Ryanair with a convenient and safe end‐to‐end transaction solution, giving them a significant advantage against other airlines.”