First Aircoach Uses First Ever Multi-Currency Contactless ETMs

With Ticketer’s multi-currency ETMs, the two million First Aircoach passengers travelling between Dublin city, Belfast and Dublin Airport, can now pay using both Euros and Sterling, making cross-border travel easy and convenient.

Icon - The challenge

The Challenge

First Aircoach wanted to enable multiple payment options, in multiple currencies, to meet the needs of their passengers travelling between Dublin and Belfast.

Icon - The outcome

The Outcome

A seamless travel experience with flexible payment options including contactless and mTicketing, in euros as well as sterling.

Background

First Aircoach is Ireland’s leading private bus and coach operator, with a unique, cross-border operation and a commitment to providing the highest quality customer experience. Four of the First Aircoach services are based in the Republic of Ireland and only use the euro, but one crosses the border between Belfast city centre and Dublin Airport. First Aircoach wanted to be able to offer passengers the convenience of multiple payment options, including contactless, in both euro and sterling.

Our Approach

“The use of multiple currencies on contactless EMV on these routes creates a truly seamless customer journey, with First Aircoach benefitting from the security provided by the Mass Transit Transaction (MTT) framework. The solution is a result of great collaboration between Littlepay and Ticketer, and First Group’s agile, partnership approach.”

Amin Shayan, CEO of Littlepay

This challenge required a customised approach. As our first multi-currency contactless customer, we tailored the ETMs to accept payments in both euros and sterling. The ETM switches smoothly between the two currencies when required, and shows the ticket price in both.

Ticketer ETMs accept all types of payments, from cash to mTickets, with contactless flexibility offered through the payment service provider Littlepay.

What This Means for First Aircoach

A smooth passenger experience

Customers are embracing the convenience of contactless ticketing, with over 6,000 contactless transactions taking place within two weeks of launch.

Speedier boarding times

The rise in the number of contactless payments, along with other cashless options such as mTicketing, speeds up boarding times, enabling services to operate more efficiently and reducing queues for passengers.

More purchase points

With services operating from busy locations such as city airports, we’re providing additional ticketing purchase points, enabling the operator to maximise the opportunity and making purchase even more convenient for customers. We’re supplying machines for the Travel Shop in Belfast, mobile retailers at Dublin Airport, and both of the airport terminals are served by mobile ticket machines for passengers to buy tickets before they board the bus.

“At Aircoach, we are committed to providing our customers with high quality public transport services and the launch of contactless further delivers on this commitment.”

Dervla McKay

Some of the things we have won

WINNER OF ‘BEST BUSINESS INNOVATION’ AND SHORTLISTED FOR ‘EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR’ AT THE NEWBURY WEEKLY NEWS BEST BUSINESS AWARDS, 2023

Received 'Most Innovative Public Transport Technology 2022' award, by the UK Transport Awards.

Winners of the 2022 Euro Bus Expo Innovation Challenge Bronze Award.

Winners of the 'ROSCO Silver Award for Contribution to Safer Driving' 2022

Profit Track 100 2021

Ranked in The Sunday Times BDO Profit Track 100, acknowledging the impressive performance and contributions of the featured companies to the economy and society during the pandemic

Transport Ticketing

Winner of the Transport Ticketing Awards 2021 'Digital Champion' Category

Ticketer Award Megabuyte

Listed as 3rd in the Megabuyte Emerging Stars Awards which recognise the top 25 best-performing scale-up Companies of the Year in the UK, for industry-specific software

Ones to Watch award

Named as “One to Watch” in the European Business Awards

Ticketer Award Thames Valley

Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year & High Growth Business of the Year

Gold Winner of the Coach and Bus Innovation Challenge 2019 for our passenger app Kazoot

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