The way travel is sold will change in 2026, as a new report predicts generative AI to be more common, NDC to become an integrated part of the retailing ecosystem, and more carriers joining or re-joining the broader travel marketplace.
Sabre has released its insights into the transformations it believes will redefine travel in 2026. The rise of Agentic AI tops the list, and it is slated to become part of everyday life and workflows to suggest and assist with travel plans, and act based on user preferences.The GDS company says agentic systems will be taking autonomous actions on behalf of users. “AI will help change search models as well in the coming year, used to create predictive caching search models that can anticipate demand, filter irrelevant results, and deliver realtime accuracy without overloading systems,” it says
. . . Integrated NDC
On the NDC front, in 2026 it will no longer be a standalone channel as it becomes an integrated part of the retailing ecosystem with that ecosystem finally having the capabilities that make NDC workable at scale.
Another important evolution is therise of NDC-IT as a bridge technology for airlines moving toward full Offer and Order-based retailing. More connected retailing is also expected, with those in the sector looking to ways to better handle content which is currently across too many channels. Next year Sabre says carriers that once operated on the sidelines will be joining or re-joining the broader travel marketplace and integrating their content and retailing capabilities on connected platforms.
Travel providers are tipped to embrace payments as an integral product in 2026, with effective payment hubs emerging as connected systems that simplify operations, reduce fraud, and unlock global flexibility.
Airlines are also tipped to ditch legacy systems in 2026, in favor of modular ones; a shift that is driven by the need to give airlines better control over how they create, price, distribute, and fulfil modern offers. Sabre says airlines are increasingly adopting an architecture that mirrors IATA’s emerging reference frameworks, where product catalog, offer management, order management, delivery, payment, and settlement are interoperable building blocks, not locked components.
See the full report HERE.
