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NDC vs. Traditional GDS - What's Best for Corporate Travel?

  Your business pays thousands—perhaps millions—per year on corporate travel. But are you maximizing the value? Corporate travel managers are now at a crossroads: continue with legacy Global Distribution Systems (GDS) or adopt the innovative NDC technology. The decision can have a seismic impact on your bottom line, employee satisfaction, and operational effectiveness. Let's put this debate to bed once and for all. Knowing the Two Systems Before we crown a champion, let's take a look at what we're contrasting. Legacy GDS : The Old Boys and Girls GDS systems such as Amadeus, Sabre, and Travelport have ruled corporate travel for years. They consolidate flight inventory from several airlines into a single searchable database. Travel management companies heavily depend on these systems. NDC : The New Kid on the Block New Distribution Capability links your booking tools directly to airlines. That direct pipeline bypasses intermediaries and opens up capabilities that GDS just can...
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How NDC Is Revolutionizing the Travel Agent's Role Forever

Imagine a customer comes to your travel agency and requests a Paris flight. Rather than displaying them in economy seats, you offer customized options with meal choice, seat preferences, and even priority boarding. All in real-time. All at reasonable prices. This isn't a fantasy situation. This is the new reality that New Distribution Capability (NDC) is producing for travel agents around the globe. But what, really, is NDC? And why should you care as a travel expert? What Is NDC? Imagine NDC to be a new language that airlines and travel agents can speak to communicate more effectively. It's a technology standard created by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). But here's the gist of it: NDC allows airlines to present their entire product and service portfolio directly to travel agents. Before NDC, airlines could only provide fundamental flight details via old-school booking systems. Nowadays? They can reveal all they know: seat upgrades, meal plans, baggage a...
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The End of the GDS Era? A Look at Airline Retailing in 2025

  It’s 2025, and the way we book flights has taken a major turn. Gone are the days when travelers relied solely on travel agents or basic booking websites that offered the same old listings from the same old systems. Airline retailing has undergone a serious transformation, and many are wondering, Are we witnessing the end of the Global Distribution Systems (GDS) era? Let’s explore what’s really going on, what’s replacing GDS, and how this shift is changing the travel experience. What Is GDS, and Why Was It So Important? For decades, GDS (Global Distribution Systems) were the backbone of airline bookings. These systems, like Amadeus, Sabre, and Travelport, connect airlines with travel agents and corporate booking tools, offering standardized listings of flight schedules, prices, and availability. GDS made life easier back in the day. Agents could access almost every airline in one place. But as technology evolved, the rigid, one-size-fits-all model of GDS began to feel outdated, es...
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Why Understanding NDC Is Crucial for the Next Generation of Travel Agents

The travel industry is changing faster than ever, and if you're a travel agent trying to stay ahead of the curve, there's one acronym you can't afford to ignore: NDC. Short for New Distribution Capability, NDC is the future of airline retailing. But what does that mean for you, the travel agent? Why is it so important to understand how NDC works? And how can platforms like NDC Deals help you thrive in this fast-changing space? Let's break it down in simple terms. What is NDC, and Why Was It Introduced? In the past, travel agents relied heavily on Global Distribution Systems (GDS) to book flights and access airline inventory. While GDS platforms are powerful, they were created decades ago and are limited when it comes to offering rich content like personalized offers, ancillary services, or dynamic pricing. NDC is a modern standard developed by IATA (International Air Transport Association) that allows airlines to distribute content directly to agents and third parties ...
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