The travel industry is currently operating in an atmosphere in which more and more airlines are rushing to capture the direct business of consumers and corporates. These airlines are doing this by the simple expedient of driving clients to book direct, by narrowing down the fares appearing on the GDSs and keeping the most discounted, cheapest-looking fares for NDC content (separated from GDS content), which also feeds their website content – leaving agents at a disadvantage as they cannot match the fares their clients are seeing online.
So it’s refreshing and encouraging to hear of an airline reiterating its commitment to travel agents with its decision to stay committed to displaying content on legacy GDS systems and rolling out NDC content slowly.
This is what Delta Air Lines says it aims to do. Speaking at the Summer Delta Business Showcase earlier this month, Bob Somers, Senior Vice President of Global Sales, said Delta had renewed multi-year agreements with two of three GDSs, and was closing in on a third agreement. Once finalised, Delta GDS content would continue to be displayed across Sabre, Travelport and Amadeus.
These agreements also include the commitment for Delta’s NDC solution to be displayed on these GDS-owned platforms, but Delta MD of Sales Technology, Sara Reid, emphasised that agencies would be able to adopt the NDC solution at their own pace.
Reid said the products Delta would offer in the future required technology beyond the capabilities of EDIFACT booking systems.
“Our approach to NDC is different to other airlines. It will be more holistic. We will not be forcing customers to use this technology. We believe we will see adoption as we create value. We will not use forceful tactics, such as prematurely removing content or imposing surcharges.”
Agencies will be able to continue shopping Delta through legacy GDS systems for the foreseeable future. “You’ll be in control when you’re ready to begin,” she said. “This journey is an evolution, not a revolution.”
Delta has also created an NDC consulting team that can help provide guidance and education to agencies choosing to adopt the solution.
