According to published reports in Europe, Lufthansa Group on April 5 began discounting by 20 euros some short-haul economy-class roundtrip fares when booked through direct or NDC-enabled channels. This is on top of the 16 euro surcharge Lufthansa, Austrian and Swiss currently apply on bookings through global distribution systems, effectively more than doubling the disadvantage in traditional, indirect… Read More »
Sitting at the nexus of travel agencies and airlines, ARC is well-positioned to understand the needs of both sides. Today’s advisor, ARC president and CEO Mike Premo, advocates collaboration on the changes facilitated by IATA’s New Distribution Capability (NDC). That’s because while there’s a lot to sort out when it comes to air travel booking, servicing and contract… Read More »
Travel management company executives said they were happy that the International Air Transport Association engaged them during a first-of-its-kind meeting in Geneva last week. The gathering kicked off IATA’s new Global Travel Management Executive Council. The effort was a long time coming, some said as they pushed aside their complaints to focus on the positives. So what was… Read More »
There will be winners and losers if the proposed acquisition of Hogg Robinson Group’s travel management company unit by American Express Global Business Travel happens. One of the wounded is neither person nor company. It’s a program: the New Distribution Capability. Don’t blame NDC. It’s just a messaging standard. The real loser is the method in which certain… Read More »
Delta’s public support for the International Air Transport Association’s New Distribution Capability is relatively tepid. That doesn’t mean it’s not exploring alternatives to traditional connectivity. In a Tuesday interview, officials discussed their focus on application programming interfaces and a clear desire to assume control over the “offer.” Shifting that control to airlines from global distribution systems may be… Read More »
Airlines, tech companies and travel agencies can register with the International Air Transport Association for certification on the New Distribution Capability. Air France-KLM and Hogg Robinson Group are among the latest to do so. What does this certification mean? Mostly, it’s a sign. A carrier that has done what it takes to get registered (AA, BA, United) is showing it publicly… Read More »
With many travel management companies accepting the IAG airlines’ private channel GDS deals, which are left out? Industry experts see the “have-nots” facing ruin or consolidation. The puzzling part is, why would British Airways and Iberia want that? Posed to a BA press official, that question was not answered. International Airlines Group has declined multiple requests over the… Read More »