Qantas New Zealand is reporting a strong initial trade uptake of its New Distribution Capability (NDC), which went live on Tue, its largest investment in modernising how agents’ book with the airline.
For the past five years QF says it has invested in IATA’s NDC technology. “This delivers the smarter tools, enhanced pricing flexibility and richer content that agents have been asking for,” says Kathryn Robertson, QF’s executive manager global sales and distribution.
. . . Locally
Some invited New Zealand-based agencies have been switching on to NDC, with adoption increasing in the last two weeks, says QF’s New Zealand manager Alex O’Connor. “Several major partners are reporting significant growth of NDC bookings as a proportion of their total bookings, highlighting strong early momentum,” she adds. House of Travel is one retail group which is welcoming the carrier’s new NDC offering. “QF and their tech partners have done the hard work to enhance the system, which will provide agents with the best opportunity to provide their customers with competitive offerings,” says HoT chief operating officer Dave Fordyce. “We anticipate the tools with 24/7 real-time support will mean our consultants can offer customers better deals faster, improving the customer experience overall.” At the same time Corporate Travel Management says as one of QF’s premium partners, customers enabled with its Lightning tech will benefit from discounts up to 6.5% off traditional fares and exclusive travel content.
. . . Engagement
O’Connor says the carrier is committed to continue working with its Kiwi travel agency and technology partners ‘to support them through their NDC journey and we look forward to seeing the long-term benefits for agents, customers and the wider industry’. “We had over 300 New Zealand agents join our NDC virtual classroom series, which covered key topics as NDC fundamentals, servicing and support, and demonstrations from GDS and technology partners,” says O’Connor. “We’ve also been facilitating tri-partite workshops with agents and their tech partner/s to help create roadmaps that support future functionality and capability enhancements.”
