While IATA's NDC promised to revolutionise airline distribution, its implementation has faced hurdles. Challenges range from technical integration complexities and data standardisation issues to overcoming pervasive industry resistance to change.
A recent American Express Global Business Travel report picks up the lack of alignment between airlines and agents when it comes to agencies implementation of the use of NDC Offers and Orders. Transforming air distribution with NDC is a complex endeavour involving the entire travel ecosystem. Without a doubt, alignment is needed for NDC channels to deliver content in a way that fully meets the requirements of agents and travellers, says the report, explaining that NDC content from airlines must evolve to meet important travel functionality must-haves.
Some of these must-haves are:
The ability to clearly present NDC and non-NDC content from different airlines together, to let the traveller easily compare all offers and book the best policy-compliant flight and price combination.
Airlines need to address booking complications, such as the inability to conduct a search by flight schedule, book one-way fares or mix restricted outbound with flexible inbound fares.
