App in the Air expands NDC airline connectivity

Booking platform announces deals with Southwest, Lufthansa Group and Hahn Air

Travel booking platform, App in the Air (AITA) has struck a new NDC (New Distribution Capability) deals with a slew of leading airlines.

The carriers include Southwest Airlines, Lufthansa Group brands Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines, Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines, and the scheduled flights of regional carrier Hahn Air.

Chief revenue officer, Greg Kott, said using NDC to connect unmanaged business travellers to airline inventory is “strategically important as carriers strive to differentiate their product and services”.

“Airlines are seeking innovative ways to attract and retain valuable unmanaged business travellers in the mobile space where they live,” he said.

“Direct bookings via NDC connectivity is that solution. It gives airlines the opportunity to delight customers with full fare transparency, the ability to avoid hidden fees and access to all inventory.

“More than that, NDC via App in the Air allows airlines to take better advantage of their unique selling proposition and upsell with easy to purchase ancillaries and upgrades to higher classes of service.  It’s a win-win.”

New NDC connection to Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian, and Brussels has been established through Duffel, to Southwest through ATPCO exchange, and to more than 80 regional airlines through Hahn Air.

These carriers join existing App in the Air NDC partners United Airlines, American Airlines, among others.

The the app’s new booking platform provides personalised search capability and the ability to preview points earned before booking with suggested flights based on airline loyalty status.

The new booking tool relies upon machine learning to suggest flights based on previous booking habits and continues to understand preferences including stops, times, amenities, alliance programmes and pricing over time.

“More than a tool to improve the booking experience, App in the Air is a tool to help the user manage the entire trip lifecycle,” said Kott.