Travelport has strengthened its partnership with Australia’s national carrier, Qantas, with a new agreement that includes a commitment to continued collaboration on the future
of distribution.

Following the announcement by Qantas of the launch of the Qantas Channel on August 1st, which will allow agents to access content sourced from the NDC-enabled Qantas Distribution Platform, Travelport managing director Australia and New Zealand, Scott Barber, said: “We are delighted to be supporting Qantas as it develops its new Channel and introduces the NDC standard.”

He added: “As the first GDS operator with an NDC booking solution available to a small group of customers, we have proven our capability to deliver this new standard.

“We are supporting our customers as they prepare for this new distribution era to ensure it provides seamless, integrated travel choice through access to the broadest range of content.

“I’d like to thank our customers for collaborating with us as we deliver the new Qantas Channel and NDC solutions which make the process of buying and managing travel better for everyone.”

The deal follows a similar partnership with Amadeus.

Commenting on the airline’s new distribution model, Qantas chief customer officer, Vanessa Hudson, said the airline was pleased to be working with Travelport to make the Qantas Channel available to their agents globally.

She explained: “The digital environment has changed the way we need to work with our trade partners, and our new technology paired with this new Qantas Channel agreement will support us on the journey to delivering our vision for our mutual customers.

“We’re excited to continue to innovate with our trade partners and share in the benefits of this new technology.”

Travelport recently outlined its 2019 NDC roadmap after the successful onboarding of the first group of travel agencies to receive access to NDC content following the initial live booking in October. 

As part of its commitment to ensure NDC works for everyone, Travelport has now implemented its booking solution with a wide variety of travel agencies, including American Express Global Business Travel, DNATA, Gray Dawes Group, Global Travel Management, Meon Valley Travel, Premier Holidays, TAG, Travel Counsellors and Travel & Transport Statesman.