Singapore Airlines in partnership with Alibaba to create smart logistics network

Singapore’s national carrier Singapore Airlines (SIA) will be joining hands with Cainiao Network, the logistics arm of Alibaba Group, to help build a global smart logistics network that delivers across China within 24 hours and globally within 72 hours.

Singapore Airlines will also tap e-commerce giant Alibaba’s extensive digital and logistics networks to further capture the fast-growing travel market in China.

Both companies announced plans to collaborate in areas covering ticket sales, loyalty programmes, marketing initiatives, cloud services and logistics at a press briefing held at Alibaba’s headquarters in eastern Hangzhou on Tuesday (Aug 21).

Through this tie-up, SIA will gain access to more than 600 million mobile users who are active on Alibaba’s e-commerce platforms.

“We have important capabilities and experiences to offer, based on valuable insights gained from serving the world’s largest group of online consumers,” said Fliggy president Angel Zhao, who is also vice president of Alibaba Group and president of Alibaba Global Business Group.

“This strategic collaboration will mark a new chapter in our complementary relationship, as we share resources and cooperate with each other to create a new digital service experience for consumers,” she added.

This is not the first time SIA is partnering Alibaba.

In 2013, mobile and online payment service Alipay was introduced as a payment option on SIA’s website.