In the fiercely competitive world of aviation today, airlines are being pushed to innovate, personalize, and optimize their booking process. And yet, most still use antiquated systems that render distribution overly complicated, fragmented, and wasteful. Step forward New Distribution Capability (NDC) — an IATA-standardized interface designed to transform the way airline content is produced and distributed. But implementing
NDC in itself does not address the whole issue. That's where OpenNDC enters the picture.
This blog explores how OpenNDC works with NDC standards to bring clarity, control, and simplicity to airline distribution. We’ll unpack what is OpenNDC, why it matters, and how it helps identify and solve key market challenges.
What is New Distribution Capability?
New Distribution Capability (NDC) is an XML-based data messaging standard provided by IATA to transform airline distribution. In the past, airline reservation systems have been held back by sparse fare displays and inflexible booking processes.
NDC is a transition to retailing flexibility, but without the adequate technology infrastructure to translate potential into performance.
What is OpenNDC?
OpenNDC is a travel technology platform designed with a specific purpose in mind that optimally unlocks NDC's potential. OpenNDC fills the gap between airline systems and NDC protocols and external distribution partners and makes it simpler to work with inventory, tailor offers, and improve user experience. Whether an airline or a technology partner, OpenNDC makes seamless, intelligent, and scalable airline distribution possible.
Designed with the future of travel in mind, OpenNDC enables end-to-end booking and fulfillment procedures, allowing your airline to innovate without impacting your operations.
How OpenNDC Interoperates with NDC Standards
To make sense of complicated airline distribution procedures, OpenNDC operates natively with NDC standards — not as a connector, but as a strategic distribution enabler. Here's how it works:
Unified API Architecture
OpenNDC integrates numerous data sources — such as airline reservation systems, price engines, and ancillary services — into one unified API. That makes it easy to integrate with multiple distribution channels and provide a uniform booking experience across them.
Real-Time Offer Creation
With NDC standards, OpenNDC creates personalized offers dynamically by using availability, traveler profile, and fare rules. From straightforward itineraries to complex multi-segment journeys, OpenNDC guarantees accuracy and personalization at each juncture.
Rich Content Delivery
OpenNDC enables graphics like fare branding, seat previews, and baggage choices — all driven by NDC's XML standards. This provides a retail-style experience where passengers can view, comprehend, and personalize what they're purchasing.
Order Management Lifecycle
In addition to shopping and booking, OpenNDC facilitates the entire NDC order lifecycle — payment, ticketing, servicing, and refund management. It streamlines complicated workflows and enhances back-office productivity.
From Complexity to Clarity: The OpenNDC Advantage
Let's dive into the main advantages of how OpenNDC simplifies airline retailing from a complicated ecosystem to a lean system designed for clarity, performance, and profitability.
Simplified Distribution
The Challenge: Airlines tend to work with fragmented systems and inconsistent content across channels.
The OpenNDC Solution: With NDC-compliant APIs, OpenNDC provides a central distribution platform, allowing airlines to push consistent, real-time content everywhere with less manual effort.
Personalized Offers at Scale
The Challenge: Legacy systems provide static prices and generic bundles.
The OpenNDC Solution: Based on real-time information and rule-based reasoning, OpenNDC provides dynamic pricing and customized packaging for greater traveler satisfaction and increased conversions.
Faster Time to Market
The Challenge: Legacy systems slow down deployment of new fare products or services.
The OpenNDC Solution: OpenNDC facilitates rapid configuration and deployment of offers, promotions, and bundles — allowing airlines to quickly react to market trends.
Richer User Experience
The Challenge: Limited content presentation hinders brand differentiation.
The OpenNDC Solution: OpenNDC offers visual fare branding, seat maps, ancillary add-ons, and more — enhancing the passenger booking experience on every channel.
Full Retail Control
The Challenge: Airlines are challenged with third-party systems managing fare display and merchandising.
The OpenNDC Solution: OpenNDC offers airlines complete control over offer construction, rules of distribution, and inventory visibility, so their brand is accurately represented.
Why Choose OpenNDC?
If you're wondering why use OpenNDC, here's why it's the go-to solution for new airline distribution:
Native NDC – Not rehashed; OpenNDC is built natively upon New Distribution Capability.
Modular & Scalable – Scalable architecture that adapts to your growing business needs.
Cost-Efficient – Lowers distribution expenses by removing inefficiencies and optimizing fulfillment.
Developer-Friendly – Simple, well-documented APIs that make integration with your current tech stack a breeze.
Real-Time Reporting – Access insights into customer behavior, performance offer, and revenue trends.
Final Thoughts
With travelers requiring personalization, transparency, and frictionless booking experiences in today's marketplace, airline distribution needs to change. New Distribution Capability provides the template for transforming content, but it's a platform like OpenNDC that brings that vision to life.
Through simplifying complicated workflows, facilitating rich and dynamic offers, and offering real-time management of the retailing process, OpenNDC cooperates with NDC standards to transform the way airlines conduct business.
No matter if you're concerned with driving revenue growth, improving the traveler experience, or collapsing complexity in distribution, OpenNDC gives you the clarity, control, and scalability you require to succeed in today's aviation economy.
It's time to shift from complexity to clarity — with OpenNDC.