BCD Travel has joined NDC FastTrack, an industry initiative launched by distribution and travel software provider Accelya to help drive the implementation of new distribution capability and modern retailing.
The travel management company will contribute both as a user and a technology partner and seek to address “technical barriers to NDC content becoming more accessible, serviceable and data-rich for corporate clients,” it said in a statement.
The cross-industry initiative is a “shared commitment to accelerate modern airline retailing through collaboration, openness, and a customer-first mindset,” according to Accelya, which said the programme equips travel sellers, tech providers and corporate buyers with practical resources to accelerate the adoption of NDC.
NDC FastTrack was launched in July with American Express Global Business Travel and Sabre as its inaugural members, together with advocacy from SAP Concur. Accelya declined to share a current list of participating companies but indicated it would do so in due course. “In the meantime, they can confirm momentum continues to build behind NDC FastTrack with participation expanding,” wrote a spokesperson for the company.
BCD’s senior vice president of supplier management and delivery, Thane Jackson, said its move underscores the TMC’s commitment to NDC and delivering “full functionality and choice for corporate travellers”.
“Our clients expect content to be consistent, transparent and easy to service,” said Jackson. “That’s evidenced by our enablement of 17 airlines’ NDC across the world and clients booking up to 65 per cent of their air bookings using NDC fares.”
Upon launch of the programme in July, Accelya said it had experienced 146 per cent year-on-year growth in corporate NDC volumes in 2024 versus 2023, and claimed to power more than 50 per cent of all NDC transactions globally.
“NDC is growing fast, bringing real benefits to airlines, travel sellers, and the broader ecosystem,” said Sam Gilliland, CEO of Accelya. “We’ve long believed NDC would become the mainstream standard for airline retailing, and now, the industry is coming together to accelerate it. NDC FastTrack, with its focus on enablement and coordination, will help the travel ecosystem achieve modern retailing faster and better.”