Flight Centre boosts tech credentials with new investment

Computer Keyboard with symbolic airplane key

Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG) has strengthened its technology roadmap via a strategic investment in a business that focuses on enhancing airline and travel agent connectivity.

The company has secured a 22.47 per cent interest in TPConnects Technologies LLC, a Dubai-based business with a next-generation New Distribution Capability (NDC), Global Distribution System (GDS) and ONE Order-based travel technology platform and software development resources.

FCTG has also entered into a commercial agreement with TPConnects to access software-as-a-service (SaaS) functions and use its NDC-certified Travel Aggregator platform, which aggregates NDC and GDS content.

NDC and ONE Order are key transformational projects launched by the International Air Transport Association to modernise and simplify airline distribution.

Greg Parker, the executive general manager of FCTG’s global air distribution business, said: “This investment ensures we are at the forefront of developments in an exciting new era of distribution and connectivity, and that our company and customers have access to the widest choice of airfares and content, including offers that sometimes sit outside the traditional channels.

“We’ve been working closely with TPConnects and have been impressed by the capability and flexibility of its NDC-enabled retailing and distribution technology.

“The TPConnects SaaS platform enables agencies to intelligently control content sources across all major GDS providers, as well as directly-connected NDC application programming interfaces, ensuring the best content is surfaced for customers.

“Within our business, this investment will help deliver innovative, next-generation solutions and drive consistency in the end-to-end agency process.

“We look forward to working with our preferred partners to leverage connectivity to drive additional retailing capabilities at scale, and to provide our leisure and corporate customers with an easy-to-use and highly personalised one-stop shop for trip planning, shopping and booking.”

TPConnects was founded in 2012 by Rajendran Vellapalath, who will continue to run the business in conjunction with his management team.

FCTG has kept the terms of its new investment confidential, other than to say that they were “immaterial” to the company.

The announcement comes shortly after FCTG revealed a massive profit fall in the first half of the 2020 financial year, as well as warning investors of further pain due to the uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus epidemic and its impact.

Featured image: iStock/hamzaturkkol

Latest News

  • Aviation

Low-cost Indian carrier SpiceJet continues to burn cash

It’s not just low-cost Australian carriers that are facing hardship. SpiceJet, India’s version of Bonza, recently announced a 72 per cent reduction in its net loss versus last year. But, despite this improvement, the airline has posted losses for six straight years. But it has secured board approval to raise up to INR 30 billion […]

  • Attractions

SAKA Museum recognised in TIME magazine’s World’s Greatest Places 2024

AYANA Resort Bali’s newly-opened cultural and events centre, SAKA Museum has been recognised in TIME magazine’s World’s Greatest Places list for 2024. Part of AYANA Bali’s resort destination, the museum integrates Bali’s rich history with state-of-the-art facilities, making it the centrepiece for the island’s spiritual and cultural heritage. TIME magazine’s inclusion of SAKA Museum in […]

  • Cruise

Silversea taps Barbara Biffi as senior vice president for global sales

Ultra-luxury and expedition cruise travel brand, Silverseas, has announced Barbara Biffi as its new senior vice president of global sales. Biffi joined the company in 2007, holding numerous positions and gaining a deep understanding of the brand, the preferences of its guests and its strategic goals, the company said. An Italian national with a wealth […]

  • Technology
  • Travel Agents

Amadeus welcomes FCM Travel as new reseller partner of Cytric Easy

Cytric Easy, the travel management tool embedded in Microsoft Teams, is to be integrated into FCM Travel portfolio. Amadeus and FCM Travel have extended their Cytric distribution agreement to include Cytric Easy. With this new agreement, global travel management company FCM Travel, becomes a reseller of the innovative travel management collaboration solution embedded into Microsoft […]