The New Age of Airline Distribution: A Comprehensive Overview

In the world of airline distribution, staying ahead of the curve is essential. With the advent of New Distribution Capability (NDC), a groundbreaking industry initiative aimed at revolutionizing the shopping experience across the air market, airlines and distribution providers are facing a paradigm shift.

Major carriers such as Lufthansa, American Airlines, and United Airlines have made bold moves by withdrawing their offers from indirect channels powered by the legacy EDIFACT protocol, signaling a seismic shift in distribution dynamics. As a result, Global Distribution Systems (GDSs) have been compelled to adapt to this new reality and gradually introduce NDC capabilities.

The Airline Retailing Maturity (ARM) index program, spearheaded by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in 2022, has emerged as a pivotal framework for assessing and advancing NDC adoption. With 76 NDC capabilities categorized into six groups (Shop, Order, Pay, Settle, Account, and Setup) the ARM index provides a comprehensive roadmap for industry stakeholders.

Travelport, as a pioneering force in the GDS landscape, proudly leads the charge with its introduction of the GDS channel. Through APIs or the Travelport + retail platform, agencies can now seamlessly access NDC content from leading carriers such as Qantas, United Airlines, American Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and Air France-KLM. With 13 verified NDC capabilities, Travelport empowers sellers to embrace the future of airline distribution.

Sabre, another stalwart in the GDS arena, continues to offer access to NDC offers from a diverse range of airlines, including Avianca Group, Qatar Airways, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, United Airlines, and American Airlines. With its robust REST/JSON Offer and Order APIs, Sabre supports a myriad of functionalities, ranging from shopping to booking and fulfillment. With 22 ARM capabilities for sellers and 18 capabilities for airlines, Sabre remains at the forefront of NDC adoption.

Amadeus, renowned for its comprehensive suite of distribution solutions, delivers NDC content from 19 airlines as part of its Enterprise subscription. With APIs based on modern REST architecture, Amadeus empowers both newcomers and industry veterans alike to tap into a wealth of travel data and functionalities. From flight and car rentals to hotel bookings and market insights, Amadeus offers a diverse array of APIs tailored to meet the evolving needs of the travel industry.

In addition to NDC, API connectivity has emerged as a cornerstone of modern airline distribution. Amadeus, Sabre, and Travelport each offer a wide range of APIs, enabling seamless data exchange and empowering travel agencies, tour operators, and B2B platforms to innovate and thrive in an increasingly digital landscape.

As the aviation industry continues to evolve, embracing technological innovations and forging strategic partnerships will be essential for driving growth and enhancing the travel experience. With NDC and API connectivity at the forefront of this transformation, airlines, and distribution providers are poised to usher in a new era of airline distribution, marked by greater efficiency, flexibility, and personalization.