By Gertjan Dewaele, Product Director – Innovation and Airline & Travel at Ingenico ePayments
I support the European Banking Authority’s (EBA) recent announcement about flexibility on a national level for strong customer authentication (SCA) – recommending migration plans now be completed by 31 December 2020. This puts an end to the uncertainty and gives the industry some breathing room.
However, it is essential to see this not as postponing but as an extension to the original deadline, ensuring a better controlled implementation. This is precisely what we are telling our customers who are impacted by SCA, particularly those in the travel sector.
“it is essential all players in the industry work together”
There are a number of travel use cases that will feel the force of SCA – from a travel agent selling multiple services on behalf of multiple travel providers to a passenger purchasing tickets at an unattended airport kiosk. Only by addressing the challenges of SCA will travel companies develop a greater relationship with customers and deliver a better, more secure customer experience.
Given the complexity of both SCA and the whole travel ecosystem of partners and intermediaries, it is essential all players in the industry work together – from the travel companies and technology providers to the payment service providers (PSPs). I strongly recommend all travel companies talk to their PSPs to understand how SCA affects them and get the help they need to ensure they are ready for the 2020 deadline.
