Warring Parties Call a Truce on NDC

A major hurdle to IATA’s moving forward with its proposed New Distribution Capability has fallen.

IATA and Open Allies for Airfare Transparency this week filed a joint motion asking the U.S. Department of Transportation to approve, with conditions, the foundation document for NDC, known as Resolution 787.

Open Allies, whose members include the three GDS companies, ASTA, and other advocacy organizations and travel agencies, agreed to withdraw its opposition to Resolution 787 – subject to implementation of conditions spelled out in the joint motion.

IATA said the conditions “are intended to add clarity to the letter and spirit of Resolution 787.”

Anonymous shopping
The conditions clarify IATA’s commitment to anonymous shopping, compatibility of existing data standards with the NDC standard and the voluntary nature of the standard.

They are similar to the conditions that IATA proposed last June but are somewhat more detailed.

IATA and Open Allies also agreed to work together and with other stakeholders “to establish an industry forum that will support a collaborative approach on distribution standard-setting.”

Urges timely approval
In a statement, IATA director general Tony Tyler said, “We are pleased that we were able to work together with our industry partners to strengthen the principles underlying Resolution 787.”

He urged the DOT to approve Resolution 787 in a “timely manner.” IATA filed for DOT approval in March 2013.

GDS support
The three GDS companies issued statements in support of the agreement.

Amadeus said it has “engaged consistently with IATA on NDC from the beginning and will continue to do so.

“Furthermore, we are working with a number of airline customers on delivering the functionality envisioned by the industry’s ambition, and we are ready to play a leading role in future development.”

‘Significant progress’
Sabre said, “Today’s announcement reflects the significant progress made by IATA and the other industry stakeholders to work together to ensure Resolution 787 will operate in practice as an agreement to develop technology standards that meet the needs of suppliers and buyers of travel.

“We applaud the cooperative steps taken by all parties and look forward to continuing our work with IATA on technology standards.”

Travelport said the agreement “is proof that IATA has decided to listen to and take on board industry feedback; and address serious concerns that its original approach was anticompetitive, anti-consumer and did not enable transparency or comparison shopping.

“It is a positive step towards real progress on the next generation of travel distribution standards that reflect the needs of all stakeholders in the travel supply chain.”