Amadeus Agents Get Taste of NDC
by Michele McDonald /Amadeus and United Airlines implemented the Amadeus Ancillary Service Solution’s first NDC-XML connection in North America for the sale of the carrier’s Economy Plus seats.
The implementation enables Amadeus subscribers in the U.S., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands to book United’s extra-legroom seat, either during the initial booking or after a ticket has been issued. Amadeus said planning for further rollout is under way.
The connection uses Version 1 of the New Distribution Capability standard, developed under the auspices of IATA to enable third parties to distribute airlines’ ancillary products and rich content.
Agency workflow
The booking of ancillary products in Amadeus, whether via the NDC-XML connection or other type of connectivity, is fully integrated into the travel agency workflow.
The Amadeus Ancillary Service Solution aims to acquire “as much airline content as possible” in a way that is searchable, bookable and serviceable by travel agents, regardless of connectivity type, a spokeswoman said.
Amadeus expects a mix of standards (Edifact, XML, NDC-XML, etc.) to co-exist for years to come.
The company has enabled airlines to deploy ancillary services in more than 95 markets worldwide. Currently, 58 airlines have signed up to use the Amadeus Ancillary Service Solution.
IATA: We have high expectations
In a statement, Aleks Popovich, IATA senior vice president financial and distribution services, said he welcomed the move.
“We have high expectations that by combining technology and merchandising capabilities, the Amadeus Ancillary Service Solution will play a leadership role in the evolution of airline distribution,” Popovich said.