Air Canada Expands Digital Offering with New NDC Platform Through Travelport+

Air Canada Unveils NDC Platform in Collaboration with Travelport+

In a significant advancement for the travel industry, Air Canada has officially launched its New Distribution Capability (NDC) platform in collaboration with Travelport, a leading global technology provider in travel booking solutions. This partnership marks a pivotal moment in Air Canada’s digital transformation journey, enabling the airline to present its full suite of offerings through an enhanced digital framework.

The NDC platform will allow Travelport-connected travel agencies to access a comprehensive range of Air Canada’s retail-ready content. Keith Wallis, the Managing Director of Customer Digital and Distribution at Air Canada, emphasized the importance of this launch, noting that it will empower travel trade partners to easily search, view, and compare various NDC offerings. The goal is to create a more personalized and seamless travel experience for customers worldwide.

Initially, this expanded access to Air Canada’s NDC content will extend beyond North America, reaching markets in Australia, Brazil, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. This wide-reaching availability signifies Air Canada’s commitment to enhancing its digital presence across key global markets, thus catering to an extensive customer base.

Travelport serves as a multi-source content provider, and its modern retailing platform, Travelport+, plays a crucial role in this initiative. Travel agents utilizing Travelport+ can view and compare a full spectrum of Air Canada’s fares and services within a single, efficient interface. The platform has been designed to improve booking efficiency, with industry-leading search speeds reportedly improved by 23%, now taking just 0.84 seconds, allowing agents to book more effectively and enhance their revenue margins.

Damian Hickey, Global Head of Travel Partners at Travelport, expressed optimism about this collaboration, stating, “Air Canada has been a great partner with Travelport, and today’s launch of NDC availability affirms our shared commitment to providing travel buyers with the full range of Air Canada’s rich content and ancillaries.” He noted that with the robust technology of Travelport+, travel agents now have enhanced opportunities to drive revenue growth and improve customer happiness by accessing Air Canada’s best offerings, thereby making travel planning more personal.

Air Canada, as the country's largest airline and a founding member of the Star Alliance, operates services to more than 180 airports across six continents. Its commitment to innovation and customer service is demonstrated not only through this new NDC platform but also through initiatives aimed at achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The airline's Aeroplan program stands as Canada's premier travel loyalty program, successfully integrating members’ experiences across a network of airline partners, merchandise, hotels, and car rentals.

This collaboration with Travelport adds an exciting dimension to Air Canada’s offerings, aligning with its vision of modernizing the travel experience through technology. As travel demand continues to recover globally, innovations like the NDC platform are set to redefine how travel is booked, providing both travel agents and consumers more options, transparency, and convenience.

In conclusion, Air Canada's partnership with Travelport to launch its NDC platform heralds a new era in travel distribution. As the airline continues to adapt to changing market dynamics and consumer expectations, this strategic move is poised to enhance not only Air Canada's digital landscape but also the entire travel booking experience for agencies and travelers alike. The industry awaits with anticipation to see how these advancements will shape the future of aviation and travel.