Travelport is the first GDS provider to be granted with both ‘Aggregator Level One’ and ‘IT provider Level Two’ status by IATA.
This means the travel technology provider is able to fully integrate with its NDC application programme interface, should the airline choose to use NDC-XML messaging to distribute and deliver their fares and products.
Travelport said for agencies and TMCs this means that when shopping for and booking flights via its Travel Commerce Platform, they will have enhanced content and greater access to ancillary offers.
In particular, Travelport-connected agents will be able to make ancillary sales post the original flight booking, and through their preferred agency workflows.
Travelport has also achieved the NDC-capable ‘IT Provider’ Level Two status, making it only the second organisation—and first GDS —to be designated as NDC certified and NDC Capable. This further expands its NDC capabilities and means it also has the option to distribute IATA NDC offers for fares and prices on behalf of the airlines electing to use IATA’s industry standards.
The company added it allows airlines to retail their full offering and brand proposition to Travelport-connected agencies and TMCs.
Online travel agencies can also make this information available direct to customers via Travelport’s Universal API.
Ian Heywood, Travelport’s global head of product and marketing, Air Commerce, said: “We know the industry needs to transform the way flights are sold and IATA’s NDC is an important part of this. It very much complements the pioneering merchandising technology we launched in 2014 with our Rich Content and Branding solution, which enables airlines to retail their full range of products, and extensively promote their brand, to the travel trade and corporate bookers. With this latest industry-first milestone, we are proud to maintain our leadership position.”
Yanik Hoyles, director, New Distribution Capability (NDC) Program, IATA, said: “We are very excited to welcome Travelport as the first GDS to join the certification program as both Aggregator and IT Provider within our NDC program. With basic and Offer Management messages whose schemas are compliant with the NDC schema, version 1.1.3 and 15.2, Travelport joins the fold of NDC players who are supporting airline efforts to provide full, rich content and product differentiation in the travel agent channel.”
