Amadeus

Air Canada Tries To Soften Blow But Surcharges Start In June

With the New Distribution Capability, Air Canada wants to have and eat its cake. During a Tuesday press briefing, executives took pains to distance themselves from the approaches of some other airlines, most recently American, and the resulting criticisms for forcing distribution change. Their words were paradoxical. Air Canada execs want a “smooth transition” that’s…

Notebook: Empathy On Fumes As Airfare Fragmentation Bears Down In America

Boston – With its plan to phase out traditional, EDIFACT-based indirect sales by the end of 2025, Finnair’s alternative distribution vision is among the world’s most ambitious. During a panel discussion at a UATP event here last week, its head of strategy admitted to a lack of familiarity with corporate needs in terms of duty…

GDSs Are ‘Ready’ For NDC, Expect Agencies To Implement In Phases

Amadeus, Sabre and Travelport say they are mostly ready for April 1. After checking many boxes for NDC preparation, they’ll access, display and provide booking and agency servicing capabilities for all American Airlines content. That’s part of the solution for the carrier’s planned removal of many fares from legacy distribution. Agencies also must get various…

American Express Global Business Travel Sets Minimum NDC Requirements

American Express Global Business Travel developed guidance for a “minimum marketable product” using New Distribution Capability-compliant connections with airlines and distribution partners. The MMP has 162 use cases and helps demonstrate the depth of change management underway in airline distribution and retailing.  GBT, which eventually may donate the “living document” to the industry, has shared…

Sabre, TMCs Advance AA NDC Testing

After some initial tests of basic functionality late last year, Sabre and several travel management companies last week started an “expanded pilot” to support fares coming through American Airlines’ NDC-compliant application programming interface. Corporate travel buyers are keen to see progress as they contemplate potentially unwelcome consequences of American’s plan in nine weeks to pull…

Blockskye-Kayak Partnership Swipes Huge Account, Eyes $1B In Corporate Travel Sales

Change in the world of managed corporate travel tends to be slow. Blockskye’s project to annihilate costs in corporate travel processes has been in the works for several years and now that it’s happening, with a big assist from Kayak, it looks like a leap. Officials with the blockchain-powered travel management company startup declined to…

American Airlines Finds Fans, Foes Of Distribution Plan (Audio)

Airline industry folks including a top consultant and tech provider saw American Airlines’ distribution strategy revealed Monday as progress. Corporate travel management company leaders? Not as much.  “This AA announcement appears to remove current content, in the name of NDC, while also limiting other content, which brings confusion to the booking process,” according to a…

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