IATA provides update on NDC developments
The recent World Passenger Symposium provided an excellent opportunity to update stakeholders on the status of the NDC pilot initiative that began in February 2013. We currently have five NDC pilots underway involving the following participants:
American Airlines, JR Technologies (JRT), US based consolidator: This pilot is covering NDC Shopping, Booking and Ticketing messages and will offer AA Preferred Seat and Main Cabin Extra not available in a non-NDC channel and product bundles.
Air New Zealand, JR Technologies (JRT), US based consolidator. This pilot will test the ability to easily describe the qualitative aspect of specific seat products offered by NZ. The pilot will enable agencies to display NZ SkyCouch Seats and Deluxe products accurately. It will also provide NZ product descriptions, price and flight schedules.
Travelsky, Hainan Airlines, CTBA (travel agency): Domestic travel is a high priority for Hainan Airlines. In phase 1, this pilot will verify that the NDC schema can support domestic travel in China. The second phase will focus on specific ancillary services of domestic travel and international travel.
Travelsky, China Southern, Ctrip (travel agency): This pilot is taking a simple-to-complex approach. The 2013 focus is on basic shopping using the NDC shopping schema. Phase 2 (2014) will focus on exposing rich content in shopping and include booking and ticketing.
Swiss International Air Lines, Datalex, PROS, HP: This pilot will demonstrate the performance of the NDC shopping Schemas with a high traffic volume. The focus is on 1) shopping and pricing requests and 2) flexible date shopping / sub-second responses. It will also use an agency GUI to demonstrate: A combined solution in a Travel Agency Context; a range of Airline Pricing Capabilities; comparison shopping across a range of products; a-la-carte cross- sell of ancillary products; personalised offers for each of the above.
At least four additional pilots are in the pipeline. These include a pilot with Air Canada and nuTravel Enterprise and another co-led by ATPCO and OAG. The AC / nuTravel pilot scope includes the online corporate self-booking tool of nuTravel Enterprise and Air Canada Corporate Rewards Program. The ATPCO/OAG pilot will focus on the concept of the airline profile (a means to help an airline manage the volume of NDC “hits” or requests), the requirements of which are in fact a work in progress.
The NDC pilot phase will provide important insights to the development of the NDC standard. However, it is important to note that no schemas may be implemented until Resolution 787 is approved by the US Department of Transportation, expected by yearend.
For more information about the NDC process, visit the dedicated IATA blog by clicking here.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
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