Auckland Airport's Alipay milestone

Mobile payment system Alipay is being used at Auckland Airport. Photo / Grant Bradley

Auckland Airport retailers have processed more than $1 million in Alipay transactions since its launch last year.

The airport was one of eight airports in the world to partner with Alipay, China's leading online payment solution. Alipay is owned by Ant Financial Services Group, which is part of e-commerce giant Alibaba Group.

Auckland Airport's chief executive Adrian Littlewood said although it was still early days, the uptake was encouraging.

"When you've got a growing base of Chinese consumers coming here, Alipay is so deeply embedded into their society it made sense for us," he said.

Alipay is a mobile payment platform that has more than has more than 450 million users in China. More than 80,000 retailers accept Alipay in Asia, Europe and North America.

Littlewood said convenience and speed worked for the airport's customers.

China is now the second largest single source of visitors through Auckland Airport after Australia.

Close to 400,000 visitors come from China, up 9.4 per cent in the past year.

When Alipay was launched last October, 20 retailers signed up.

Auckland Airport is the first airport in Australasia to take part in the programme and joins seven other international airports, including Singapore's Changi Airport, Hong Kong International Airport and Munich Airport.

Jason Delamore, Auckland Airport's general manager said at the launch mobile payment platforms had enjoyed huge growth and they're fast becoming the most popular way for Chinese travellers to pay for goods, services and share their travel experiences.

"The Alipay partnership also opens up opportunities to communicate with potential travellers from China before they come to New Zealand and with Chinese visitors while they're travelling here," Delamore said.