Travelport, a global technology company that powers travel bookings for hundreds of airlines and thousands of hotels worldwide, today announced it has reached a commercial agreement with Air France-KLM to enable the distribution of the airline group’s NDC content via Travelport+, Travelport’s next-generation content distribution and travel retailing platform.
Agents that sign an access agreement with Air France-KLM will be able to access its NDC content and services through Travelport+ in an integrated agent workflow: via the agency point-of-sale Smartpoint, or through modern and lightweight API connections.
Pieter Bootsma, Chief Revenue Officer at Air France-KLM said: “We’re pleased to expand our cooperation with Travelport to make our NDC content and services accessible through Travelport+. This is an important step in our distribution strategy, complementing our existing NDC distribution network. NDC is a key innovation for Air France-KLM as it allows our customers to benefit from more attractive and customized offers, such as continuous pricing and tailor-made bundles. It is an outstanding technological step opening up brand new retailing perspectives in the future.”
Jason Clarke, Chief Commercial Officer – Travel Partners at Travelport, said: “This is an innovative deal which truly maximizes value for both Air France-KLM and Travelport’s global community of travel agencies, particularly those with a higher level of servicing needs. We are enhancing our longstanding partnership with Air France-KLM and are pleased to be able to offer the airline group’s differentiated NDC content alongside its traditional content to our customers. Travelport+ is purpose built as a next-generation modern travel retailing platform, so we’re delighted Air France-KLM has recognized the value its partnership with Travelport can continue to bring.”
Travelport and Air France-KLM are well progressed on the technical solution for NDC distribution. NDC content will be rolled out from early 2022, with features and functionality to be added progressively.
