Travelport reach agreement on NDC distribution with Air France-KLM and IAG
Travelport, a global technology company that powers travel bookings for hundreds of airlines and thousands of hotels worldwide, announced it has reached a commercial agreement with Air France-KLM to enable the distribution of the airline group’s NDC content via Travelport+, Travelport’s next-generation content distribution and travel retailing platform. Agents that sign an access agreement with Air France-KLM will be able to access its NDC content and services through Travelport+ in an integrated agent workflow: via the agency point-of-sale Smartpoint, or through modern and lightweight API connections.
Pieter Bootsma, Chief Revenue Officer at Air France-KLM said: “We’re pleased to expand our cooperation with Travelport to make our NDC content and services accessible through Travelport+. This is an important step in our distribution strategy, complementing our existing NDC distribution network. NDC is a key innovation for Air France-KLM as it allows our customers to benefit from more attractive and customized offers, such as continuous pricing and tailor-made bundles. It is an outstanding technological step opening up brand new retailing perspectives in the future.”
Jason Clarke, Chief Commercial Officer – Travel Partners at Travelport, said: “This is an innovative deal which truly maximizes value for both Air France-KLM and Travelport’s global community of travel agencies, particularly those with a higher level of servicing needs. We are enhancing our longstanding partnership with Air France-KLM and are pleased to be able to offer the airline group’s differentiated NDC content alongside its traditional content to our customers. Travelport+ is purpose built as a next-generation modern travel retailing platform, so we’re delighted Air France-KLM has recognized the value its partnership with Travelport can continue to bring.”
Travelport and Air France-KLM are well progressed on the technical solution for NDC distribution. NDC content will be rolled out from early 2022, with features and functionality to be added progressively.
Also, Travelport and International Airlines Group (IAG), announced a distribution agreement to enable modern travel retailing by bringing New Distribution Capability (NDC) content from Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, and Vueling to Travelport-connected travel agencies around the world.
By channelling its NDC content through the next-generation Travelport+ platform, IAG will be able to offer travel retailers a wider range of content – including Additional Price Points and an expanded selection of ancillary products – while taking advantage of modern digital retailing tools such as intelligent storefronts to merchandize them effectively.
Celia Muñoz Espin, Sales Strategy and Distribution Director at Iberia, said: “We welcome Travelport to NDC, as an important part of the innovative and far-reaching transformation that is happening in the industry. This significant agreement is focused on providing added value to customers with access to our exclusive NDC products and fares. Travelport is a trusted provider of technology within the travel industry as it evolves towards next generation travel retailing. It is important for Iberia to partner with technology providers that have proven expertise and fulfils the demand for customer-focused innovation.”
Chris Ramm, Vice President Global Enterprise, Air Partners at Travelport, said: “Unlocking the potential of sophisticated multi-source content like NDC, by making it easier for the trade to access and sell, is a key part of our plans for Travelport+. We are hugely excited to be working alongside a partner like IAG, which shares our vision for modern travel retailing.”
Katy Cardwell, Head of Distribution and Payments at British Airways, said: “Our new agreement with Travelport is an exciting addition to NDC, creating greater opportunities for all partners in the travel ecosystem. This supports our vision of moving towards a more innovative way of travel retailing, giving Travelport subscribers access to a greater choice of new and better products and services, including Additional Price Points and ancillaries, which are only available via NDC and add significant value.”
Travelport and IAG are progressing well on the technical solution for NDC distribution and will continue to add features and functionality ahead of NDC content being rolled out.
