Operating in a highly regulated industry, in so many currencies and markets, Virgin Atlantic had specific requirements when it set out to introduce a multi-acquirer strategy. “What’s important to us was experience within airline verticals, having other customers in that field and having a dedicated airlines team,” explains Keli Sandeman, Virgin Atlantic’s payment strategy manager.
“We needed somebody we could trust, somebody that had expertise in the airline space. So, we looked to our peer group and our partners,” she continues. “We knew Elavon was a valued partner of our joint venture partner Delta Air Lines – so it made sense for us to be introduced and see if Elavon could support our needs, as well.”
Virgin Atlantic has quite a complex technical setup, Keli explains. “We transact through multiple channels across multiple business entities. So, we need a partner that can understand the complexities of that and support us in those needs, when we need it.”
Security and compliance were also important considerations, as Virgin Atlantic is a highly compliant business. “We need to know we’re following the right rules and regulations, so having a payments partner that understands those – and can support us in making sure we tick all the right boxes – is absolutely key.”
