The future of travel with NDC

You may have heard a bit of noise recently around changes to airline technology that may be heralding in a new way of purchasing travel. This is all to do with a New Distribution Capability or NDC that’s making the travel experience more accessible for all.

What is the NDC exactly?

NDC is a new standard of transmitting data, developed by IATA, that allows airlines to distribute their content in real-time.

Just as the development of a standard internet protocol allowed the creation of companies like Facebook and Google to thrive, the NDC standard should allow new actors and innovation to better compete in the world of travel.

Many airlines see NDC as an enabler to deliver better content to everyone and therefore improve the travel experience.

Here’s what travellers can look forward to:

Your Travel Management Company (TMC) can already book ancillary services, such as extra baggage or pre-boarding more easily. Going forward corporate travel consultants will have access to more personalised offers that meet the needs of specific travellers, such as flights with shorter connection times for regular trips and onboard Wi-Fi.

For the business traveller, it means access to greater product differentiation and will make it easier to see what they are paying for. As an example, you’ll have access to pictures and even videos to compare one airline’s business class product with another before you depart.

NDC is also offering greater access to low-cost carriers.

When will NDC be rolled out? 

Developing this new standard is a gradual process with rollout largely dependent on travel industry suppliers investing in and transitioning to NDC technology.

FCM Travel Solutions and our parent company, the Flight Centre Travel Group, will start running a series of NDC pilots in the second quarter of 2019 that will allow travel bookers to search, book and service NDC content across multiple channels.

FCM’s goal has always been to balance the short-term priorities of NDC with building a long-term sustainable booking solution with our technology partners.

NDC promises content tailored to the company’s travel programme and business needs. If fully implemented, it could free companies and their business travellers from a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to choosing suppliers and indeed flights.