GDSs on New Distribution Plan: We’re Willing to Play
by Michele McDonald /Now that the Transportation Department has given the nod, with conditions, to IATA’s “New Distribution Capability” (NDC) will the GDS companies get onboard too? After all, they initially opposed NDC with various levels of vehemence.
Sabre support
“Sabre fully supports the U.S. Department of Transportation's tentative approval, subject to the specified conditions, of the International Air Transport Association’s proposal to create a technology standard, and Sabre will continue to be a strategic collaborator with IATA toward our shared goals,” the company said in a statement. http://www.travelmarketreport.com/articles/DOT-Tentatively-Approves-NDC
“Based on strong marketplace support for Sabre’s leading technologies, we have enabled many airlines worldwide to sell ancillaries and provide personalized travel offers.”
Amadeus: the right direction
In an Amadeus blog, Svend Leirvaag, vice president of industry affairs, wrote, “The tentative approval offered today by the Department of Transportation for IATA’s Resolution 787 is a tentative move in the right direction and reflects industry cooperation.
“And it should be another milestone on the path towards the development of an enhanced distribution capability that is to the benefit of the entire travel industry: from passengers and agents to airlines and technology providers.
“Such an outcome has not always been likely, but the cooperation between IATA and Open Allies that produced a number of conditions to Resolution 787 submitted jointly to the DOT in January cleared the path for the industry to work together to move towards a modern distribution standard.”
Travelport: we’re pleased
In its statement, Travelport also said it is “pleased” with the DOT’s move, and took the opportunity to wave its own flag a bit.
“With regard to Travelport specifically, we have been leading the development of next-generation distribution technology through our groundbreaking Travelport Merchandising Platform utilizing Universal API and XML connectivity options to airlines,” it said.
“The Travelport Merchandising Platform was developed to allow airlines to distribute and differentiate all of their fares and ancillaries via the travel agency channel, connecting to Travelport exactly how they chose to, whilst enabling travel agencies to fully compare the offers from those airlines.”
The Merchandising Platform, in fact, comes very close to what is envisioned by NDC. Travelport CEO Gordon Wilson likes to suggest that NDC is old hat; “we’re already doing it,” he has said.