New Distribution Capability

Dispatch 6

At the end of September, Travelport reduced its workforce. Sources said the cut was about 10 percent of employees. A media relations official declined to address that figure. “Our goal is to be the industry’s most effective and efficient company, delivering the best technology that enables our customers to be the most modern retailers,” the…

Notebook: Travel Buyers Discuss Booking Channel Policy Flavors And Tradeoffs

Asked how corporate travel buyers should deal with fares found outside preferred booking channels, Cisco senior global procurement service leader for travel and card Carlos Almendros said, “You’ll get a different answer for every buyer.” Travel managers also speaking at the Global Business Travel Association convention last month supported the variety of approaches and considered…

Amex GBT Wins Citi, Develops Its Services For Companies Across The Spectrum

Interviewing American Express Global Business Travel CEO Paul Abbott during a Sept. 7 investor meeting, Citi equities analyst Pete Christiansen referenced a “really good” financial services company that GBT had recently won. Turns out, it’s Citi. Implementation in multiple countries is due by year-end, sources said.  CWT, which declined to comment, has been Citibank’s primary…

Travel Leaders Corporate Offers NDC To Clients At No Added Cost

Travel Leaders Corporate confirmed that as of Sept. 5, it opened to clients New Distribution Capability-based bookings on participating airlines, through enabled agent and self-booking channels, for no additional cost.  During a Tuesday interview, Travel Leaders Corporate president Michael Boult acknowledged concerns and criticisms of NDC but said that doing what’s best for the client…

RTX Takes On The Challenge Of Shifting From American Airlines

RTX, the $67 billion multinational aerospace and defense conglomerate, mainly uses American Airlines. It’s been … difficult. RTX associate director for travel Colleen Kearney at the GBTA convention last month said the company was “actively managing against what’s happening in the industry,” but that’s “not easy, by any means.” “By far” RTX’s largest airline, AA…

Notebook: NDC As Contract Component? It’s Under Consideration

Dallas – Utilization targets for the New Distribution Capability are part of the “new contracting process with many of the airlines,” according to FCM Travel’s head of consulting for the Americas, Ashley Gutermuth.  That companies could negotiate with airlines on this basis was fascinating and “eye-opening” for Matt Patterson, senior director of client relationship management…

Dispatch 5

[CORRECTION, Aug. 11: The last line of this Dispatch was updated to eliminate an inaccurate description. AmTrav’s findings are that American Airlines’ NDC fares beat the GDS fares “33 percent of the time for Main Cabin and 93 percent of the time for Main Cabin Flexible.”] Last month, United Airlines chief commercial officer Andrew Nocella…

End of content

End of content