Yesterday Travelport became the first global distribution system to obtain Level 3 status under IATA’s New Distribution Capability (NDC) initiative.
The certification - IATA’s highest - puts the GDS ahead of fellow distribution platforms Sabre and Amadeus, which have both stated plans to achieve Level 3 rank in 2018.
Travelport will work with airline tech specialist Farelogix to implement the NDC connection with a major global airline, the details surrounding to be revealed soon; Travelport also worked with UK travel agency Meon Valley Travel.
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“We already connect travel buyers through the airline database ATPCo to more than 280 ancillaries. This NDC status will complement that,” says Derek Sharp, Travelport senior vice president and managing director of air commerce.
“It will also complement our extensive existing API connections and our valued tools for critical workflows, servicing and synchronization. This is such a complex process for all participants, and we look forward to working with other partners in making this new era a success.”
Previously, in an interview with PhocusWire, Farelogix president and CEO Jim Davidson says that while the generally risk-averse culture of the travel industry means new tech adoption is a slow process, NDC was the catalyst that got airlines thinking about better ways to engage customers.
Once GDSs embrace change, “they will have the ability to really create new value for the airlines,” he says. “Right now, all that innovative spirit is pent up in attempting to figure out ways to keep the status quo.”