In the news: NDC and data protection are current ‘hot’ issues among technology companies, travel providers as well as travellers. Here are the latest developments in these two areas.
Distribution: Amadeus achieves level 3 certification on latest NDC standard, accepts Qantas to its distribution programme
Level 3 certification on latest NDC standard for Amadeus
Travel technology provider Amadeus, in a recent statement, announced it is the first to receive level-3 certification on the latest version (18.1) of NDC standard.
Commenting on the ‘achievement’ Gianni Pisanello, VP, NDC-X programme for Amadeus, said the company had worked with IATA and other industry partners to test and improve this latest version of the standard. Apart from driving industrialisation and adoption, Version 18.1 and the new data model “means that NDC messages between airlines and third parties – whether aggregators, travel sellers or corporations – now have a more defined structure.”
He added that with the certification Amadeus is getting “a step closer to the milestone when all the industry players will be able to speak and interpret the NDC language, in the same way, which is a key benefit for the whole industry.”
This certification as an IT provider follows on from Amadeus’ previous level 3 certification as an IT provider and level 1 certification as an aggregator in 2016 and 2017. Amadeus is also on track to achieve level 3 certification as an aggregator later this year.
In a related development, Amadeus welcomes Qantas to its NDC-X programme that brings together airlines and travel sellers to connect on the IT company’s NDC-enabled travel platform.
This follows the renewal of an IT and distribution partnership between the two companies.
Last month the Australian carrier launched a new technology platform, Qantas Distribution Platform (QDP), to enable its trade partners to interact with its customers on a more personal level through enhancing the airline’s retailing, booking and servicing capabilities.
Amadeus will connect to the QDP and deliver NDC content to travel sellers, allowing them to book NDC content alongside other travel content. This will enable greater personalisation for travellers.
Pisanello said the Amadeus Travel Platform was designed with both airline and travel sellers needs in mind and will work to make NDC content available within it.
“We’re making great progress and will have online travel bookings in production later this year, meaning that the full booking flow of ‘shop, order and pay’ will take place using the NDC standard”.
Travel Technology: CTM Singapore strengthens transaction security with virtual payments
Virtual payments for secured transactions (Image credit: welcomia/iStock-Getty Images)
Corporate Travel Management (CTM) Singapore, a provider of cost-travel management solutions to the corporate market, has launched Sabre Virtual Payments to enable secured transaction channels between travellers and suppliers.
The solution, developed in partnership with virtual card technology provider Conferma, is available through Sabre’s corporate booking tool GetThere and the new Sabre Red Workspace.
Sabre said the solution addresses the need for safe and reliable transactions between agents, travellers and suppliers and is working with over 30 banking partners.
Using the tool agents and travel management companies (TMCs) are able to issue single-purpose virtual cards for air, hotel, and agency fee payments. The cards are sent directly to the traveller’s mobile via TripCase. A simple single form of payment is generated that is recorded through a protected distribution channel, ensuring secure transactions and reducing third party access to sensitive credit details.
Eugene Tan, general manager of CTM Singapore, said the solution was a “tremendous asset” for the company as it “enables rich data capturing, helps to better manage revenue and facilitates compliance for all parties involved in the transaction”.
According to him, CTM has improved its booking efficiency by 30% to 40 % while driving revenue growth.
Jason Toothman, vice president global accounts, Sabre Travel Network Asia Pacific, added the tool “directly supports the public discussions that we are witnessing today around data protection.”
The solution is currently available to agents and TMCs in Australia, Hong Kong, India, New Zealand and Singapore. Over the coming months It will be deployed across the remaining Asia Pacific countries.
• Featured image credit: junce/iStock-Getty Images
