Travelport claims to have developed the GDS industry’s first application programming interface (API) that aggregates travel content and related services from multiple sources through a single interface.
The Travelport Universal API brings together GDS, low cost carrier, high speed rail and merchandising content from travel suppliers worldwide.
Online travel agencies, traditional agencies and consolidators will see benefits when building travel-related applications for use on the web, for desktop solutions or mobile applications such as improved efficiency, a streamlined travel supply chain and reduced software development costs.
Travelport Universal API is described as being central to the underlying architecture of next-generation technologies, including Travelport Universal Desktop, a booking solution that unifies travel selling and merchandising onto a single platform being tested by Flight Centre.
Travelport chief marketing officer Sally Balcombe said: “Today’s travel agencies and developers are challenged by having to tap into multiple web sites, GDSs, and supplier-direct channels to access the content, functionality, and pricing they need to satisfy consumer demand and in Travelport Universal API we have the solution.
“These technologies represent a re-engineering of Travelport’s technology infrastructure, leading to greater opportunities for up-sell and cross-sell revenues for travel retailers and suppliers, and greater satisfaction for travellers.”
Customers using applications built with Travelport Universal API will see “seamless booking experiences” through the use of Travelport Universal Record – a “super PNR”.
Travelport Universal Record is an off-host structured database that stores data for all segments booked through the Travelport Universal API with full synchronisation back to the GDS PNR to maintain mid- and back-office integration, the company said.