Expedia Wants New Features With Amadeus NDC Partnership
Skift Take
Key Points
- Expedia expands partnership with Amadeus to integrate NDC technology.
- The collaboration aims to offer more dynamic offers and a wider range of pre-flight services.
- Amadeus will leverage its relationships to promote NDC adoption industry-wide.
Summary
Expedia has announced an expanded partnership with Amadeus to integrate its New Distribution Capability (NDC) technology, allowing for more dynamic offers and competitive fares. This collaboration aims to enhance traveler experiences by offering a wider range of pre-flight services that are typically available only on airline websites. Amadeus plans to leverage its extensive relationships with airlines and online travel agencies to further push the adoption of NDC technology across the industry.
It wasn’t too long ago that if you booked a flight through an online travel agency, you couldn’t pick your seat assignment in advance.
That’s because the technology from global distribution systems such as Sabre, Amadeus and Travelport, which connect airlines and online travel agencies, wasn’t capable of doing so.
Enter the New Distribution Capability (NDC) developed by IATA. It has enabled online travel agencies, such as Expedia, Booking.com, and MakeMyTrip to enable passengers to select their seats in advance for many airlines.
Expedia Expands Amadeus Partnership
Madrid-based Amadeus announced this week that it has an expanded partnership where Expedia will integrate Amadeus’ NDC tech, and deploy its aggregated NDC content solution. Expedia downgraded its distribution relationship with Amadeus rival Sabre, based in Texas, a couple of years ago.
An Expedia Group spokesperson said the Amadeus partnership will enable the online travel agency to accelerate its NDC-based services options.
“With that, travelers will benefit from more dynamic offers and a wider range of competitive fares including ancillaries, ultimately leading to richer traveler experiences,” the Expedia Group spokesperson said.
Potential Services That Expedia Might Introduce
Amadeus said the collaboration would also enable Expedia to further personalize services.
Expedia declined to detail which services it might be adding based on the expanded partnership.
There are a range of services that airline websites offer pre-flight that most online travel agencies don’t.
Among them are onboard Wi-Fi, meals and beverages, dedicated security, early boarding, lounge access, and overhead bin space.
Amadeus believes it can leverage its airline and online travel agency relationships — it already provides flight connectivity services to many online travel agencies — to push NDC.
“Building on our relationships with both airlines and travel sellers, we are in a strong position to foster cross-industry collaboration on NDC to the benefit of travelers everywhere,” Sam Abdou, Amadeus’ vice president of global sales airline IT, distribution and global online travel agencies, said in a statement.
Photo Credit: Expedia hopes to expand airline ancillary services that it can offer customers. Pictured is New Club World products being served on board a special flight on a 787-9, which also marked the opening of First Wing, London Gatwick and Boston Lounges. Source: Nick Morrish/British Airways British Airways / Nick Morrish
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