Lufthansa Group is to increase its distribution cost charge (DCC) to £14, due to the weakening value of the pound.
The DCC was introduced in 2015 for Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa and Swiss as an equivalent to €16.
The latest hike takes effect from 1 June 2019, with all tickets issued before this date subject to the current DCC of £11.30.
The DCC does not apply for sales partners connected to Lufthansa Group airlines’ Direct NDC API or the free of charge, web-based SPRK booking platform.
In the UK, the airline group claims that a "strongly increasing number of travel agents are in a position to take advantage of this saving, leading to a consistent price advantage of up to £60 on a round trip over the traditional GDS". Meanwhile, its NDC Partner Program offers sales partners and customers a "preferred value proposition" which comprises four components: NDC Smart Offer; NDC Bonus; Servicing; and Technology.
Last week, Lufthansa became the world’s first airline to earn IATA's One Order certification. One Order allows all travel products and services for a particular trip – including those of third parties such as partner airlines or hotels and car rental companies – to be integrated under a single booking reference number. The airline said the adoption of One Order was made possible by the NDC standard.
The charge increase follows IAG's decision to move to a £9 per leg fee in September last year, up from the previous fee of £8.
lhgroupairlines.com