## Travelport and Air India Partner to Revolutionize Travel Agency Bookings with NDC
In a significant move to transform the travel industry, global technology leader Travelport and India’s flagship airline Air India have announced a strategic partnership to accelerate the adoption of New Distribution Capability (NDC) content for travel agencies. This collaboration, set to be fully implemented in the fourth quarter of 2024, will empower travel agencies connected through Travelport+ to access and compare Air India’s NDC offers alongside traditional content, streamlining the booking process and enhancing customer experience.
Streamlining Bookings with NDC:
NDC, a technology standard developed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), enables airlines to distribute their content more effectively. This new system allows airlines to present customized fare offers, which travel agents can easily compare to traditional content. The launch of Air India’s NDC content on Travelport+ is expected to revolutionize how agents view, compare, and book Air India flights, making the process faster, more personalized, and efficient.
Empowering Travel Agencies:
As a technology provider that powers travel bookings for hundreds of thousands of suppliers worldwide, Travelport is the global leader in distributing Air India’s content. Through its Travelport+ platform, the company connects the airline to a vast network of travel agencies across the globe. Agencies using Travelport+ will benefit from the accelerated launch of NDC content, which promises faster, more personalized offers from Air India. This allows agencies to book and manage trips with greater flexibility and efficiency, catering to the growing demand for customized travel experiences.
Damian Hickey, Global Head of Travel Partners at Travelport, emphasized the importance of this partnership:
> “Globally, Travelport is the leading aggregator of Air India content for travel agencies. Our partnership is centered around our shared belief that agencies are an essential retailing channel to provide travelers with seamless, personalized experiences for every trip, even after booking. That is why Travelport’s end-to-end NDC solution will empower agencies to directly service Air India bookings, so they can manage changes across NDC and non-NDC content seamlessly.”
Content Curation Layer: AI-Powered Precision:
Travelport’s latest enhancement to its Travelport+ platform, the Content Curation Layer (CCL), will be pivotal in simplifying the retail experience. The CCL utilizes advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and machine-learning (ML) technologies to filter through multiple sources of content, delivering more accurate search results. This intelligent system standardizes offers, making it easier for travel agents to understand and compare various options from Air India.
By employing AI and ML to sort and prioritize retail-ready content, the platform ensures that agents can provide personalized and efficient travel solutions to their clients. The Content Curation Layer is a game-changer for travel agents using Travelport+, helping them navigate a vast array of options, including those from Air India’s NDC content, to find the most relevant offers for their travelers.
Air India’s Commitment to Innovation:
Air India’s involvement in this initiative is part of its broader strategy to enhance its digital offerings and provide a better customer experience. Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial and Transformation Officer at Air India, expressed the airline’s commitment to the partnership:
> “Travelport is one of our preferred technology providers. Together, we are looking to deliver a solution that makes it easy for agents to access, sell, and service Air India’s content and offers through Travelport+.”
By embracing NDC technology, Air India is poised to become more competitive in the global aviation market. The airline’s collaboration with Travelport will not only expand its reach but also provide travel agencies with a more seamless way to manage bookings. With personalized content and enhanced service capabilities, the partnership positions Air India as a forward-thinking airline, ready to meet the evolving demands of travelers.
The Future of Travel Agency Retailing:
The collaboration between Travelport and Air India marks a significant step forward in the travel industry’s shift towards personalized, retail-focused travel experiences. As the travel landscape continues to evolve, NDC technology is becoming an essential tool for airlines looking to differentiate their offerings and provide more tailored options to travelers. With Travelport’s extensive global network, Air India can leverage NDC content to strengthen its position in key international markets.
The full integration of NDC content into the Travelport+ platform will allow travel agencies to better serve their customers by offering a more complete view of available flight options. Agents will be able to compare NDC and non-NDC content side by side, ensuring that they can select the best option based on their clients’ unique preferences. Whether it’s for a business trip or a leisure vacation, travelers will benefit from a more personalized booking experience that meets their individual needs.
What’s Next for Travelport and Air India?
With the fourth-quarter rollout of NDC content on Travelport+, agencies connected to the platform will gain an invaluable resource for managing Air India bookings. The partnership between Travelport and Air India highlights the travel industry’s growing emphasis on leveraging cutting-edge technology to create better experiences for both agents and travelers.
As the partnership progresses, it’s likely that more airlines will follow suit, adopting NDC content to provide more customized offers and enhance their overall service capabilities. Travelport’s leadership in aggregating multi-source content will continue to drive innovation in the travel sector, paving the way for a more connected and efficient future in air travel retailing.