New services, deals

Aeroflot

Aeroflot now accepts Alipay as a payment option on its website to enhance services for Chinese customers. Aeroflot is the first transport partner of the Chinese payment system in Russia.

The airline has recently developed a host of service- enhancing initiatives to cater to Chinese passengers.

For example, Chinese- language versions of the website and menu have been launched and passengers flying by business class can enjoy a set menu featuring a selection of Asian cuisines.

The in- flight entertainment systems offer Chinese TV programs and announcements are made in Chinese on flights to and from China.

IATA

The International Air Transport Association ( IATA) announced global passenger traffic results for May, which show that demand ( measured in revenue passenger kilometers, or RPKs) rose 7.7 percent compared to the same month in 2016.

Asia- Pacific airlines saw their traffic rise 10.5 percent in May compared to the same period a year before.

The global capacity increased 7.2 percent and load factor jumped 2.3 percentage points to 77.6 percent. Traf- fic on Asia- Europe routes has recovered strongly since last year’s terrorism- related disruption, surging at an annualized rate of more than 26 percent since November.

Meanwhile, traffic on inter- Asia routes remains robust.