Finnair is to start selling NDC-enabled fares through Amadeus Travel Platform as part of an extended distribution deal with the technology provider.
TMCs and travel agencies will have access to Finnair’s NDC content from “later” in the current third quarter of 2022. These fares will be available through TMCs’ existing Amadeus booking platforms including Amadeus Selling Platform Connect, Amadeus Travel APIs and the Cytric Travel & Expense tool.
The new partnership between Finnair and Amadeus builds on an existing NDC distribution and IT deal signed in 2019. Finnair is aiming to “effectively distribute” all of its content and fares through NDC-based platforms by the end of 2025.
Jenni Suomela, Finnair’s vice president channel management and payments, said: “This important step supports the fast scaling of NDC, ultimately enabling us to better serve our customers. As travel volumes are increasing, it’s a great time for us to offer new tools to our partners in the global travel community.”
Amadeus said that it currently provides NDC-enabled airline content to more than 14,000 travel bookers in 68 markets globally.
Jose-Luis Aragon, regional vice president, air distribution, Europe, at Amadeus, said: “We are very pleased to strengthen our partnership with Finnair to support its digital transformation, in turn accelerating the industry’s journey to enhanced retailing.
“With global travel volumes increasing this summer season, it is important to rebuild and maintain traveller confidence. With new content powered by NDC, Finnair will be able to provide richer, more tailored offers to passengers.
In a separate deal, Finnair is also making its NDC content available through Sabre’s global distribution system (GDS), which will see agents being able to access the airline’s NDC fares through the technology firm’s APIs, as well as Sabre Red 360 and the corporate booking platform GetThere from November 2022.
Kathy Morgan, vice president, channel delivery at Sabre Travel Solutions, said: “We are excited to be working with Finnair to distribute their NDC content. Finnair is a technologically innovative airline and together we seek to elevate the NDC booking experience and advance the adoption of offer and order-based travel retailing.”