Passengers Can Now Book Ground Transfers Using AirFi’s Wireless IFE System
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Getting a taxi from the airport to your final destination can be a stressful experience – there are often unlicensed drivers soliciting for business or big queues at the official taxi ranks during peak travel times. A new partnership between AirFi and Transferz is aiming to solve this friction point in the passenger journey.
AirFi has partnered with global ground transportation platform Transferz to develop an API and software development kit that integrates the Transferz taxi booking engine with AirFi’s wireless in-flight entertainment (IFE) platform.
“We see the wireless IFE portal as a gateway to broader e-commerce success and enhanced ancillary revenue for our airline partners,” explained AirFi’s CEO, Job Heimerikx. “We have been in talks with Transferz for quite some time and are impressed with their business model, high standard of ground transport partners, suite of integration tools and global reach and client base that includes airlines, airports and OTAs”.
Passengers connected to the wireless network during their flight can access the Transferz booking engine via their personal electronic devices with one click. To book a transfer, they must then enter their final destination, the number of people in their party, the amount of bags they have and any special requirements. They will then be presented with a list of suitable rides and prices. Passengers can also add a note for the driver.
From when the passengers’ flight lands, they will receive communication from Transferz throughout the journey to their final destination. The company also offers 24/7 multilingual support.
Payment for transfers booked on the platform can be completed in both online and offline cabin scenarios. The latter will be done when the plane lands, but Transferz promises that a ride can be arranged at any airport in its network through the application in as little as 20 minutes, which it estimates is the time it takes a passenger without luggage to travel from the aircraft to the landside arrivals area in a small airport.
“Airlines should be looking at every opportunity to tap into this part of the journey for revenue opportunities and better customer care,” said Johan van Vulpen, CEO at Transferz. “We have 6 years of experience working with only the most reputable and well-established ground transfer companies at over 1,500 airports globally. Each of our transfer partners must comply with our strict service level agreements, with tough criteria for driver checks, cleaning standards, fleet sustainability, safety and more. This makes it possible for us to give the passenger true peace of mind, which is especially important when they arrive at a new destination for the first time.”
The Transferz application can be easily added to existing AirFi customers’ IFE portals, and will be a pre-integrated option for new customers.