Iata launches NDC Matchmaker to bring transparency to new data standard

Iata launches NDC Matchmaker to bring transparency to new data standard

Free service will enable airlines, agents and aggregators to search for and compare NDC partners

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has launched a free services to enable airlines, agents and aggregators to search for and compare NDC partners.

NDC Matchmaker is intended “to bring more visibility to travel distribution stakeholders that are collaborating on implementations of Iaa’s New Distribution Capability data standard.

Iata said it will increase transparency of NDC capabilities and “facilitate cooperation among different participants in the travel value chain that are engaged in their own journeys to airline industry retailing”.

The NDC Matchmaker is being launched at the Global Business Travel Association 2019 Convention in Chicago.

Yanik Hoyles, Iata director, industry distribution programs, said: “The NDC Matchmaker responds to corporate travel buyers’ need to have greater insight into airlines, travel sellers and aggregators participating in the NDC space. It is also about companies being able to be showcased through a user-friendly tool.”

The idea emerged from Iata’s Travel Manager Advisory Group (TMAG) that is made up of key corporate travel managers and procurement professionals in Europe and North America who meet regularly to address the challenges, opportunities and benefits of NDC for corporate travel buyers.

“The NDC Matchmaker will bring greater transparency to the marketplace and will help corporate buyers to understand which airlines are offering NDC content through their partners,” said Claudia Adams, chair of the European TMAG.

The NDC Matchmaker already includes more than 80 NDC connections between airlines and their travel seller partners.

Participants can display their NDC content and partnerships and be searched by category as airlines/sellers/aggregators; by type of products and services available; or by country.

“The more companies that use it, the more benefits it will create for the travel value chain,” said Hoyles.