Delta's new distribution agreements with the three major global distribution systems will ensure that travel advisors have access to full content and without a surcharge on usage of legacy systems.
Speaking at the Delta Business Showcase on Aug. 20, senior vice president of global sales Bob Somers said Delta has completed multi-year agreements with two of the three GDSs and is nearly done with the third. One of the completed agreements is with Sabre; the airline hasn't said whether the other completed agreement is with Travelport or Amadeus.
"They include a full-content commitment across all channels and then set the stage for [new distribution capability] and further display enhancements on GDS-owned platforms," Somers said of the new agreements.
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Somers didn't specify the length of the agreements. Neither did Sabre, which described the new deal as "long-term." Delta last renewed its agreements with Sabre, Travelport and Amadeus in 2021.
Somers said the new agreements will maintain Delta's value-based approach to compensating GDSs, which involves scaled payments based on the value of each booking. To drive those higher-revenue bookings, the GDSs will continue to invest in merchandising platform improvements, he said, including enhancements to legacy displays as well as the development of NDC platforms.
During the business showcase, Delta managing director of sales technology and global sales support Sara Reid provided a progress report on Delta's NDC development. The carrier expects to have a basic selling solution connected with technology partners Google, Accelya, ARC and IATA by the end of the year. Delta will begin testing a basic NDC selling and servicing solution with select agency partners next year.
Reid emphasized that agencies will be able to adopt Delta's NDC solution at their own pace or continue shopping Delta through legacy GDS systems.
"You'll be in control of when you're ready to begin," she said.
To help interested agencies along, Delta has created an NDC consulting team that can provide personalized guidance and education, Reid said.