How to move forward with NDC as the foundation of modern retailing

It’s been more than 10 years since IATA’s board of governors introduced an initiative to support a New Distribution Capability (NDC). The first standard came out a few years later, in 2015, aimed at modernizing airline distribution through direct connections between airlines and travel agencies.

But in the years since then, the concept of NDC has come to mean different things to different people, and its progress has lagged behind expectations.

With more than 30 years at Sabre , Kathy Morgan, vice president of airline supply and NDC, has been on the frontlines of airline distribution and NDC development.

So it’s no surprise that in a discussion with PhocusWire editor in chief Mitra Sorrells Morgan is able to explain NDC – as well as how it relates to the concepts of Offers and Orders and ONE Order – in a clear way that makes sense of the complexity.

It’s a timely topic, given that American Airlines has said travel agencies not connected to its NDC technology by April will lose access to about 40% of fares. Morgan offers her take on the airline’s strategies and explains what Sabre is doing to support its customers in relation to this change.

Listen to the full discussion below.