HTS powers travel innovation with AI-driven fintech: new partnerships and products to transform airline retailing

The following article was published by Future Travel Experience

HTS, a Gold Sponsor of APEX FTE Dublin 2025, is reshaping travel with its AI-driven fintech solutions. By partnering with top airlines like Virgin Australia, HTS delivers flexible, customer-focused products that drive loyalty and revenue.

HTS (Hopper Technology Solutions) – a Gold Sponsor of the co-located APEX FTE EMEA and Ancillary & Retailing events (Dublin, 10-12 June 2025) – is the B2B division of global travel platform Hopper. Here, HTS shares how it uses its data advantage and AI-driven travel technology to help partners address modern traveller needs. Register for APEX FTE EMEA and Ancillary & Retailing – one registration provides access to both events >> See the APEX FTE EMEA / Ancillary & Retailing schedule at a glance >>

Working with the world’s leading banks, airlines and travel providers, HTS supercharges its partners’ direct channels with its travel fintech and e-commerce products. The company has developed several unique fintech ancillaries, including Cancel for Any Reason and Disruption Assistance, that address everything from pricing volatility to trip disruptions. These ancillaries are integrated directly into the booking flow on airline partners’ direct channels, offering their customers added flexibility and confidence. HTS other offerings, including HTS Stays, help partners capture greater trip wallet share with a modern white-label lodging marketplace, integrated into their digital, loyalty, and CRM ecosystem. This offering is designed to enable a personalised and higher-performing user experience.

“FTE has curated a top-tier audience of airline ancillary professionals,” says HTS. “The opportunity to discuss the evolving ancillary and retailing landscape with these individuals is highly valuable to our business as a whole. Sponsoring provided HTS with the opportunity to highlight our successful partnership with Virgin Australia.”

HTS just announced several new fintech partnerships, including a partnership with Virgin Australia to introduce Cancel For Any Reason on the airline’s direct channel. This new for-fee option, integrated directly into Virgin Australia’s booking flow, offers customers the ability to cancel their Economy Lite or Choice airfares for any reason. HTS’ fintech products give customers more flexibility when booking their travel.

HTS’ fintech products are popular with customers and profitable for airlines. With Cancel for Any Reason, for example, if a customer books directly through HTS’ partner airlines, they can opt to add Cancel For Any Reason to their non-refundable fare. This plan allows customers to instantly cancel their flight up to 24 hours before departure and receive a cash refund of their ticket cost back. If a customer cancels, the flight refunds are 100% supported by HTS and the airline can resell the liberated seat.

Through HTS’ proprietary machine learning models, each ancillary product is dynamically priced to optimise both ancillary revenue and customer value. The models take into account, among other things, the full itinerary context.

The added flexibility is key for consumers, especially in light of economic headwinds. Airlines are delighting customers and driving high NPS with fintech products that give consumers confidence.

Data from HTS shows that 20% of GenZers and 24% of Millennials used an alternative payment method when they booked their most recent travel; choosing options like Apple Pay, PayPal and Buy Now Pay Later. The two younger generations use alternative payment methods 2x more than older generations, signalling a generational shift to modern payment solutions.

Simultaneously, demand for the ability to use rewards points/miles to purchase travel is rising – more travellers use points, or a combination of points and another payment method, to purchase travel than those who use Apple Pay, Google Pay or Buy Now Pay Later options alone.

Airlines that can adapt to these consumer preferences will see higher conversion and repeat purchases. HTS’ e-commerce and payment solutions help airlines capture more direct revenue and supercharge loyalty. Its next-gen hosted checkout solution combines multiple payment options, sophisticated anti-fraud technology, and wallet capabilities.

“APEX FTE EMEA and Ancillary & Retailing offers a valuable opportunity to connect with relevant industry professionals and share our latest announcement and success,” says HTS. “We are excited to share the stage with our valued partner Virgin Australia. Mark your calendars for 12 June at 09:35, and don’t miss Ella Alkalay Schreiber from HTS and Tanya McCaffrey from Virgin Australia as they dive into the exciting new partnership. The two will provide content on HTS’ fintech products and how they work, as well as what it means for the airline and results to date.”

Hear more from HTS (Hopper Technology Solutions) at the co-located APEX FTE EMEA and Ancillary & Retailing events, taking place in Dublin on 10-12 June 2025. Ella Alkalay Schreiber, SVP & GM of Fintech, HTS (Hopper Technology Solutions) and Tanya McCaffrey, Head of Ancillary Products, Virgin Australia, are participating in a Fireside Chat: ‘Virgin Australia x HTS – how travel fintech can deliver flexibility to customers and generate new revenue opportunities’. The two will provide content on HTS’ fintech products and how they work, as well as what it means for the airline and results to date. Register for APEX FTE EMEA and Ancillary & Retailing – one registration provides access to both events >> See the APEX FTE EMEA / Ancillary & Retailing schedule at a glance >>

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HTS powers travel innovation with AI-driven fintech: new partnerships and products to transform airline retailing