WHILE Lufthansa says its Direct Connect
portal is gaining traction globally, a year
after its launch, SA agents believe the
product has no chance of taking off in
the local market just yet.
Direct Connect (New Distribution
Capability [NDC]-based technology),
provides agents with direct access to
the fares of the Lufthansa Group airlines
without the €16 (R258) surcharge
imposed on GDS bookings.
The airline says since September last
year its profits via Direct Connect have
steadily increased and that more than
1 500 Iata agencies are now connected
globally.
“This is an important step on our way
to a new distribution landscape in the
airline industry,” says Jens Bischof,
