How Realistic Is Air China’s XRP Payment Integration Plan?

Air China eyes crypto leap with XRP payments—but can legacy aviation truly embrace blockchain speed?

The Ambition vs. Reality Gap

Air China's proposal to integrate XRP payments dangles a futuristic vision: instant settlements, lower fees, and a nod to crypto's growing clout in global finance. Yet, marrying a state-backed airline with decentralized currency sparks more questions than answers. Regulatory hurdles loom large—China's cautious stance on crypto clashes with Ripple's aggressive cross-border payment goals. Technical integration isn't a weekend project either; legacy booking systems weren't built for blockchain agility.

Why XRP? The Speed Play

Ripple’s XRP promises near-instant transactions, a tantalizing upgrade from sluggish traditional banking rails. For an airline processing millions in cross-border transactions, even marginal efficiency gains could translate to massive savings. But adoption hinges on more than just tech—it requires trust in a volatile asset class and buy-in from stakeholders who still view crypto as a speculative gamble, not a operational tool.

The Skeptic’s Corner

Let’s be real: corporate crypto announcements often feel like PR stunts designed to woo investors rather than operational blueprints. Air China’s move might be less about immediate implementation and more about signaling innovation—because nothing juices a stock price like a whiff of blockchain disruption (even if the CFO hasn’t fully crunched the numbers).

Bottom line: Watch for action, not words. If Air China actually onboard XRP, it could redefine aviation finance. Until then, treat it like a hedge fund’s pitch deck—bold, beautiful, and borderline fictional.

XRP Ambitions Of Air China and Wetour

In a latest press release, the travel company’s Wetour platform said it WOULD support XRP payments for overseas services. This would include airport transfers and chauffeur bookings.

The plan marks one of the most prominent references yet to a state-owned Chinese enterprise experimenting with cryptocurrency-linked payments. 

Some will throw shade on the the fact that the announcement that chauffeur services provider Webus has signed a strategic partnership with Air China which has 60 million members refers to XRP payment support but does not specifically and explicitly state XRP will be used. For me… pic.twitter.com/WzyR8rJWFJ

However, Beijing’s complete ban on crypto trading and payments makes it impossible for Air China to roll out XRP inside the country.

Notably, Air China is majority-owned by China National Aviation Holding. It’s a state enterprise under central government supervision. 

As such, the airline cannot legally accept digital assets like XRP for domestic flights, ticketing, or loyalty transactions.

But the partnership announcement was very carefully worded. It specifies that XRP integration applies to Wetour’s. 

That leaves the door open for PhoenixMiles members abroad to pay with XRP in countries where regulations allow it, while keeping domestic operations compliant with Chinese law.

Global Context

Other international carriers, including Emirates and Qatar Airways, have experimented with crypto-based payments and loyalty tokens in recent years. 

Air China’s MOVE aligns with a broader trend of airlines exploring blockchain to improve settlement times, reduce costs, and tokenize rewards.

Still, China remains a notable outlier. The government continues to promote its digital yuan, or e-CNY. 

Therefore, Air China’s adoption of XRP-linked services will remain limited to international hubs and partners outside Beijing’s jurisdiction.

While PhoenixMiles members may soon be able to pay for services in XRP abroad, the program is unlikely to extend the option to flights or services within China’s borders.

The development highlights the complex intersection of state ownership, international competition, and blockchain adoption. It shows how Chinese enterprises can cautiously test digital assets abroad, even as crypto remains banned at home.