Airlines back controversial NDC
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The world’s airlines have confirmed their support for IATA’s controversial New Distribution Capability (NDC) initiative.
In a resolution approved unanimously at this week’s IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM), the airline association’s members agreed that the NDC would offer “the ability to compare and transact airline offers in a transparent fashion”.
The XML-based NDC standard aims to improve the way airline products are sold via the GDS, giving airlines the chance to offer more services in the same way they would on their own websites.
It has proven controversial however, as it asks customers to input personal information, giving way to concerns over privacy. But the AGM Resolution sought to alleviate these concerns, noting that consumers will be “protected by data privacy protection laws and regulations”.
“Consumers want to be able to buy air travel products in the same way that they purchase other goods, with full access to product information, the ability to comparison-shop and to see the full value of the offer. And we want our travel agent partners to be able to offer it. NDC will enable this to happen,” said Tony Tyler, IATA’s director general & CEO.
The NDC standards were agreed in late 2012 and have now been submitted to the US Department of Transportation (DOT) for approval. The consultation process was criticised by the industry for not including all stakeholders. But Tyler accused some opponents of the NDC of “not telling the truth”.
“Let me clear the air with some facts,” he said. “NDC will not contravene privacy laws… NDC will not bypass travel agents… and NDC will not eliminate comparison shopping.”
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