CA Market News
1日前
Unlocking the Americas: Air Canada and Abra Group Sign Memorandum to Expand Travel and Connectivity between Canada, Latin America and BeyondJune 7, 2026 8:00 AM
PR Newswire (US) Establishes pathway to strategic partnership of Air Canada and Abra Group and a joint business agreement Customers will benefit from an improved travel experience, expanded loyalty benefits, and enhanced cargo servicesEnables revenue sharing and deeper commercial integration, including expanded codeshareRIO DE JANEIRO, June 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Air Canada and Abra Group today announced they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop a broad, long-term strategic partnership. The agreement between Canada's largest airline and the Latin American air transport company, whose carriers include the Avianca and GOL brands, would enable the partners to expand their global reach, providing customers and shippers greater connectivity across North, Central and South America and beyond. Any final agreement is subject to final documentation and regulatory approval. "Air Canada and Abra Group are building the foundations for an enhanced partnership that will further unlock the Americas. With Latin America acting as a fast-growing and strategic component of Air Canada's global presence, our customers to and from the region have long benefited from existing codeshare partnerships with Abra Group. Building from a highly complementary presence across the Americas, this Memorandum of Understanding between our world-class airlines creates a pathway to further bolster our partnership, improve the customer experience, and enhance global connectivity. We look forward to working alongside Abra Group to deliver meaningful value to our customers and partners," said Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, and President of Cargo at Air Canada.Angus Clarke, Chief Commercial Officer at Abra commented: "This milestone agreement with Air Canada reinforces our ambition to redefine connectivity across the Americas and beyond. At Abra Group, we believe in building seamless, integrated networks that bring people, cultures, and economies closer together. Our complementary strengths with Air Canada expand travel options and create a more connected hemisphere, unlocking new opportunities for our customers, our partners, and the regions we serve. This is a significant step toward shaping a more accessible and dynamic aviation ecosystem."Mary-Jane Lorette, Vice President, Revenue Management, Partnerships and International Affairs at Air Canada, added: "The Canada–South America market is accelerating, and we are investing to capture this momentum, expanding into key markets such as Lima, Santiago and Rio de Janeiro, with further growth ahead in Quito while building on our strong foundation with Avianca through Star Alliance and our long-standing collaboration with GOL to shape connectivity across the Americas and unlock greater value for our customers."Partnership highlightsUnder the proposed strategic partnership, which is subject to the negotiation of final documentation and regulatory approval, Air Canada and Abra would:Expand global reach by strengthening connectivity between Canada and key Latin America markets, with broader access to international markets;Deepen commercial integration through coordinated sales and distribution;Establish a Joint Business Agreement on select Canada-Latin America routes, to enable deeper commercial integration;Expand codeshare cooperation across the Americas and beyond, including for travel between Latin America and other international markets via Canadian gateways;Enhance the Customer Experience to provide more seamless travel, including coordinated airport services, smoother connections, aligned baggage policies, and improved disruption management;Strengthen frequent flyer cooperation, delivering increased earning and redemption opportunities and improved recognition across both networks;Explore greater cargo collaboration, including opportunities to offer more seamless and efficient solutions across key markets in the Americas in support of growing trade flows.About Air Canada Air Canada is Canada's largest airline, the country's flag carrier and a founding member of Star Alliance, the world's most comprehensive air transportation network. Headquartered in Montréal, Air Canada provides scheduled service directly to more than 180 airports in Canada, the United States and Internationally on six continents. It holds a Four-Star ranking from Skytrax. Air Canada's Aeroplan program is Canada's premier travel loyalty program, with more than 10 million members worldwide. Members can earn or redeem points on the world's largest airline partner network of 50 airlines, plus through an extensive range of merchandise, hotel and car rental partners. Through Air Canada Vacations, it offers a selection of vacation and Flight & Hotel packages, tours, cruises, car rentals, excursions, and a variety of activities and experiences. Its freight division, Air Canada Cargo, provides air freight lift and connectivity to hundreds of destinations across six continents using Air Canada's passenger and freighter aircraft. Air Canada's climate-related ambition includes a long-term aspirational goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. For additional information, please see Air Canada's TCFD disclosure. Air Canada shares are publicly traded on the TSX (AC) in Canada and the OTCQX (ACDVF) in the US.About Abra GroupAbra is a leading air transportation company across Latin America that brings together the iconic Avianca and GOL airline brands, along with a strategic investment in Wamos Air, on a unified, pan-Latin American platform. The Company also encompasses leading loyalty programs (LifeMiles and Smiles) and robust cargo operations. In addition, Abra holds convertible debt representing a minority ownership interest in Sky Airline.Avianca, the second-oldest airline in the world, operates a fleet primarily comprised of A320 and B787 passenger aircraft, as well as cargo aircraft. GOL, one of Brazil's leading airlines, operates a fleet largely composed of B737 passenger aircraft. Wamos Air is a leading European provider of wide-body Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance (ACMI) services, operating A330 passenger aircraft. Abra has approximately 30,000 employees and operates a fleet of more than 300 aircraft, with scheduled flights serving more than 25 countries and over 145 destinations. For more information, visit www.abragroup.netInternet:
aircanada.com/media
ABRA Group - Newsroom - News View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/unlocking-the-americas-air-canada-and-abra-group-sign-memorandum-to-expand-travel-and-connectivity-between-canada-latin-america-and-beyond-302793350.htmlSOURCE Abra Group Original: Unlocking the Americas: Air Canada and Abra Group Sign Memorandum to Expand Travel and Connectivity between Canada, Latin America and Beyond
CA Market News
3月前
Hands In and UATP Announce Global Partnership to Transform Airline Payments WorldwideMarch 10, 2026 10:39 AM
PR Newswire (US)
Partnership Brings Split Payments to the Travel Industry via UATP's Ceptor® PlatformLONDON and WASHINGTON, March 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Hands In, the UK-based split payment solutions provider and UATP, the global network that helps organizations simplify payments and expand their payment options, today announced a strategic partnership allowing airlines to activate Hands In's proprietary split payments API to combine multiple cards, payers, and payment methods for one payment.
The collaboration brings together UATP's position as a leader in aviation payments infrastructure with Hands In's rapidly adopted split payment functionality helping airlines modernize checkout without disrupting their current payment architecture. Across travel and other high-value commerce sectors, these capabilities help merchants recover transactions that would otherwise be lost due to insufficient funds or card limits while enabling larger purchases and shared bookings. Samuel Flynn, CEO of Hands In, stated, "Airlines do not want another complex integration. They want functionality that works within their existing infrastructure. By embedding directly into UATP's Ceptor, Hands In is making split payments that combine multiple cards, payers, and methods accessible at a global scale, not only from an enablement perspective but also reconciliation, which is the major challenge for airlines accepting split payments today."Through this partnership, airlines across the globe will be able to offer travelers the ability to split the cost of flights and ancillary services between cards and payment methods, directly at checkout, without needing internal development for this functionality. "UATP continues to lead in payments innovation. Integrating Hands In into the Ceptor platform allows us to offer airlines enhanced flexibility to travellers at checkout while preserving the integrity and reliability of our Network," stated Ralph Kaiser, President and CEO of UATP.As demand for flexible payment options continues to rise, particularly for higher-value travel purchases, this collaboration empowers airlines to increase conversion and approval rates, grow ancillary revenue, and improve customer satisfaction. Passengers benefit from greater financial flexibility and transparency, while airlines maintain full control over the customer experience within their own branded environment.As airlines continue to innovate in retailing and digital transformation, this partnership sets a new standard for flexible, customer-centric payment experiences in the aviation sector.For more information, visit https://www.handsin.com/ and uatp.comUATP media contact: Wendy Ward, wward@uatp.comHands In media contact: hafsa@handsin.comAbout Hands InHands In is a UK-based payment solutions company specializing in split payment enablement, which combines multiple cards, payment methods, and payers into one payment for the travel industry. Founded in 2022, Hands In enables merchants to unlock incremental revenue from adding new sales at checkout and recovering payment declines without changing their existing payment stack. Learn More: https://www.handsin.com/About UATPUATP is one of the largest global and most secure closed-loop networks, simplifying payments in complex industries. We make it easy for businesses to make or accept any type of payment; open new markets, drive growth, and reduce costs for Issuers, Merchants, vendors, agents, aggregators, and more. UATP is continually innovating to connect companies to new forms of payment (AFPs), and our easy-to-use data tools, DataStream® and DataMine®, provide comprehensive account details to Issuers and Corporate Account Holders. Our team has decades of experience with the ever-changing payments landscape, and our reliable and proven technology ensures our global customers get more from every payment experience. Learn more at uatp.com.Accepted as a form of payment for corporate business travel worldwide by airlines, travel agencies, and Amtrak®; UATP accounts are issued by: Aeromexico; AERTiCKET; Air Canada (TSE: AC); Air China; Air New Zealand (ANZFF.PK); Air Niugini; AirPlus International a wholly owned subsidiary of SEB Kort; Akbar Travels; American Airlines (NASDAQ: AAL); APG Airlines; APG Pay; Austrian Airlines; BCD Travel; China Eastern Airlines (NYSE: CEA); ConnexPay; Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL); EL AL Israel Airlines; Ethiopian Airlines; Etihad Airways; Fareportal; Flight Centre Travel Group; Frontier Airlines; GOL Linhas Aereas inteligentes S.A. (NYSE: GOL and Bovespa: GOLL4); Hahn Air; High Point Travel; Hopper; Japan Airlines (9201:JP); JetBlue Airways; LATAM Airlines; MakeMyTrip; Qantas Airways (QUBSF.PK); Shandong Airlines; Sichuan Airlines; Southwest Airlines; Sun Country Airlines; TUIfly GmbH; Turkish Airlines (ISE: THYAO); United Airlines (NASDAQ: UAL); Wego; WestJet; Wings Global Travel and W2 by GO7.Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/75542/UNIVERSAL_AIR_TRAVEL_PLAN_LOGO.jpg
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/hands-in-and-uatp-announce-global-partnership-to-transform-airline-payments-worldwide-302709644.html
Original: Hands In and UATP Announce Global Partnership to Transform Airline Payments Worldwide
CA Market News
4月前
UATP Partners with MICA to Bring Credential-less Multi-Tender Payment Solution to MerchantsFebruary 19, 2026 10:24 AM
PR Newswire (US)
Solution gives merchants greater payment flexibility and streamlined operations at the network level, powered by Mica's patented technology.WASHINGTON and AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- UATP, the global network that helps organizations simplify payments and expand their payment options, has partnered with credential-less payments infrastructure provider Mica to launch multi-tender payment capabilities for merchants. Powered by Mica's patented payment technology and delivered through UATP's global payment platform, the new network solution enables merchants to intelligently allocate a single booking across multiple payment types in one transaction, while keeping settlement and reconciliation streamlined.
The solution brings together multi-tender orchestration, card authentication, intelligent payment routing, processing and automated reconciliation within a single, network-level payment flow. Merchants can combine cards, account-to-account payments, vouchers, coupons, loyalty currencies, and other stored-value instruments in one transaction, improving booking allocation and simplifying back-office operations.The multi-tender payment solution incorporates patented credential-less tokenization and payment technology, which eliminates stored credentials entirely, removing a primary target for fraud and account takeover attacks. Unlike traditional tokenization, this approach generates ephemeral, single-use keys that cannot be intercepted or reused, enabling secure and flexible payment experiences across channels. This expands UATP's Ceptor capabilities to all channels including in-store, in-airport and in-flight purchases. The partnership solves a growing demand for payment optimization across retail and travel verticals alike. By operating at the network-level, UATP gives merchants a way to modernize their payment stack without disrupting existing acquiring, gateway, or settlement relationships."Merchants want to expand payment choice without adding complexity or cost," said Ralph Kaiser, President and CEO of UATP. "Our proven infrastructure, combined with Mica's technology, helps merchants adopt new payment models efficiently, even in the most complex business environments. By delivering multi-tender and credential-less capabilities as a network solution, we enable merchants to orchestrate multiple forms of payment within a single transaction, while keeping settlement, reporting, and reconciliation fully streamlined across the UATP platform."The rule-based network capabilities allow merchants to decide how to allocate a basket total across various tenders, such as loyalty currencies, stored value, or alternative methods, before routing any remaining balance through card or account-based rails. With this flexibility, merchants can accept a broad range of payment forms, including stablecoin, account-to-account transfers, and traditional methods, all through a single platform optimized for online, in-app, and in-person use."Merchants have been forced to choose between payment flexibility and fraud protection. With Mica's credential-less tokenization and multi-tender payments technology now available through UATP's global network, they no longer must compromise. We are eliminating credential exposure that fuels massive payment fraud, with a more powerful payment experience with multi-tender orchestration, something legacy payment systems simply cannot deliver." said Mike Ward, CEO of Mica.Because the capabilities are delivered through UATP's network, merchants maintain their existing acquiring, gateway, and settlement relationships while gaining access to new multi-tender orchestration and credential-less tokenization and payment technology. The solution will help drive payment innovation across the ecosystem as multi-tender adoption grows.Media Contacts:
UATP: Wendy Ward, CMO, UATP, wward@uatp.com
Mica: Christopher Loughlin, CGO, Mica, christopher.loughlin@mica.ioAbout UATP
UATP is one of the largest global and most secure closed-loop networks, simplifying payments in complex industries. We make it easy for businesses to make or accept any type of payment; open new markets, drive growth, and reduce costs for Issuers, Merchants, vendors, agents, aggregators, and more. UATP is continually innovating to connect companies to new forms of payment (AFPs), and our easy-to-use data tools, DataStream® and DataMine®, provide comprehensive account details to Issuers and Corporate Account Holders. Our team has decades of experience with the ever-changing payments landscape, and our reliable and proven technology ensures our global customers get more from every payment experience. Learn more at uatp.com.Accepted as a form of payment for corporate business travel worldwide by airlines, travel agencies, and Amtrak®; UATP accounts are issued by: Aeromexico; AERTiCKET; Air Canada (TSE: AC); Air China; Air New Zealand (ANZFF.PK); Air Niugini; AirPlus International a wholly owned subsidiary of SEB Kort; Akbar Travels; American Airlines (NASDAQ: AAL); APG Airlines; APG Pay; Austrian Airlines; BCD Travel; China Eastern Airlines (NYSE: CEA); ConnexPay; Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL); EL AL Israel Airlines; Ethiopian Airlines; Etihad Airways; Fareportal; Flight Centre Travel Group; Frontier Airlines; GOL Linhas Aereas inteligentes S.A. (NYSE: GOL and Bovespa: GOLL4); Hahn Air; High Point Travel; Hopper; Japan Airlines (9201:JP); JetBlue Airways; LATAM Airlines; MakeMyTrip; Qantas Airways (QUBSF.PK); Shandong Airlines; Sichuan Airlines; Southwest Airlines; Sun Country Airlines; TUIfly GmbH; Turkish Airlines (ISE: THYAO); United Airlines (NASDAQ: UAL); Wego; WestJet; Wings Global Travel and W2 by GO7.About MicaMica is building the infrastructure for how commerce moves value. Designed as modern payment infrastructure at the network layer, Mica can dramatically enhance or replace legacy card-based rails with a credential-less, multi-tender transaction model built for the realities of digital and physical commerce. The platform enables secure, flexible transactions across channels while preserving existing acquiring, gateway, and settlement relationships—allowing merchants and networks to modernize without disruption.Mica offers patented credential-less tokenization and payment services extensible via APIs. Within a single payment rail Mica can support on-line, in-app, P2P and in-store use cases across any form of value; debit, credit, loyalty, crypto, closed loop, stablecoins, etc. By removing structural constraints embedded in traditional payment systems—rigid tender models, credential exposure, and operational friction—Mica gives merchants, networks, and platforms the ability to orchestrate how value is exchanged with greater intelligence, control, and scale. Learn more at www.mica.io.
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/uatp-partners-with-mica-to-bring-credential-less-multi-tender-payment-solution-to-merchants-302692752.htmlSOURCE UATP
Original: UATP Partners with MICA to Bring Credential-less Multi-Tender Payment Solution to Merchants