The Last Mile of Conversion: How seamless payments drive revenue from high-intent travelers

The global airline industry is entering a new phase of sustained recovery, with passenger revenues projected to reach USD 693 billion in 2025. Yet despite strong growth, airlines and online travel agencies (OTAs) face an often-overlooked challenge: payment friction that disrupts conversions and erodes loyalty.

Nuvei, in partnership with Edgar, Dunn & Company (EDC), surveyed 1,011 travelers across five key markets (UK, US, Brazil, Hong Kong, Spain) to examine payment preferences and pain points. The findings underscore the urgency for travel providers to rethink payments as a core commercial strategy rather than a technical function.

Two pillars stand out as decisive: convenience and flexibility.

Convenience: While 92% of travelers consider ease of payment essential, 17% still report card declines during bookings. This equates to an estimated USD 117 billion in transactions at risk across the airline sector. Almost one in five customers abandon their booking or switch to competitors when declines occur, resulting in measurable revenue loss.

Flexibility: Nearly 60% of travelers would abandon a booking if their preferred payment method is unavailable. Preferences vary by market, with Pix dominant in Brazil (71%), AliPayHK in Hong Kong (29%), and Bizum in Spain (23%), while PayPal remains important in the US and UK. Demand for split payments is also high, with 75% of travelers wanting the ability to combine cards, wallets, or loyalty miles.

For airlines and OTAs, payments are now a competitive differentiator. Businesses that deliver localized, seamless, and flexible payment experiences will protect conversion rates, build loyalty, and unlock sustainable revenue growth.