April 5, 2016 – Panasonic has announced that its NFC reader is now available for in-seat production at multiple OEMs – a first in the aviation industry.
Panasonic’s NFC reader is already EMV compliant with MasterCard (EMV is a joint effort between Europay, MasterCard and Visa to ensure security and global acceptance so that MasterCard and Visa cards can be used everywhere). The company is in ongoing discussions with major credit card providers including Visa and China Union Pay, and is opening discussions with Discover, and American Express. It expects to obtain compliance in the coming months.
Panasonic expects its NFC technology also will be used by airlines for a wide range of non-payment applications including secure synchronization of personal data; recognition of a passenger’s frequent flyer status for benefits or promotions; crew check in and check out; and pairing of NFC-enabled devices with the embedded IFEC system, allowing airlines to push information to passengers during their flight.
Paul Margis, president and CEO for Panasonic Avionics said, “For airlines, EMV payments on IFE platforms should help eliminate potential transaction liabilities that they face today. In addition, passengers will be able to synchronize their own trusted token to the IFE system and create unique “just-for-me” experiences without compromising any of the personal data stored on their own device.”
The announcement follows continued growth in NFC-enabled devices. A recent study from Juniper Research found that the annual transaction value of online, mobile and contactless payments will reach US$3.6 trillion this year, a 20% increase over 2015.