United Airlines And Amadeus Forge Groundbreaking Partnership For Unparalleled Global Flight Distribution Using Cutting-Edge NDC And EDIFACT Content

Published on October 23, 2024

United Airlines and Amadeus have teamed up in a groundbreaking partnership, offering unparalleled global flight distribution with cutting-edge NDC and EDIFACT content.

United Airlines and Amadeus have entered into an enhanced distribution agreement that strengthens their long-standing partnership. As part of this collaboration, United Airlines will offer a broader selection of flight content to travel sellers through the Amadeus Travel Platform. This agreement enables travel sellers across the globe to access not only the New Distribution Capability (NDC) content but also EDIFACT content, providing them with a wider range of options when booking flights.

The partnership is geared toward creating more personalized travel experiences, which have become a growing expectation among travelers. With NDC technology at the forefront, travel sellers can now offer more tailored and flexible booking options, allowing them to deliver trips that better align with individual travelers’ preferences. This move significantly expands the scope of what United Airlines can offer through the Amadeus platform, not just in the United States but in markets worldwide.

“Amadeus has been a vital distribution partner in the deployment of NDC, and we are delighted to accelerate that journey today,” said Kurt Van Meir, Managing Director, Distribution, United Airlines. At United Airlines, we look forward to deepening our collaboration with Amadeus as we work together to create an enhanced shopping experience for travelers across every channel.”

Expanding Access to Flights and Fares Globally

The enhanced agreement brings a significant advantage to travel sellers, as it provides them with access to a broader selection of flights and fares. The Amadeus Travel Platform, a leader in global travel distribution, reaches over 48,000 travel sellers across 155 markets. This gives United Airlines immense global reach, ensuring their flights and services are available to a much wider audience. Whether travelers are looking for domestic routes within the United States or international flights, travel sellers now have the tools to meet their needs.

This expansion is crucial for travel agencies and other sellers who require a comprehensive platform to cater to a diverse set of clients. By offering both NDC and EDIFACT content, the agreement makes it easier for these sellers to provide their customers with the most up-to-date and competitive fares, all while maintaining flexibility and personalized service.

The Role of New Distribution Capability (NDC)

NDC is a travel industry standard that improves the way airlines distribute content to travel sellers. It enables richer and more personalized content, including dynamic pricing and tailored offers. United Airlines’ decision to incorporate NDC into its distribution model through the Amadeus Travel Platform demonstrates the airline’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions for its customers.

Through this enhanced agreement, United Airlines and Amadeus are pushing the boundaries of what travel distribution platforms can achieve. By embracing NDC, they ensure that travel sellers can offer more customized trips, giving travelers the ability to select flights and services that perfectly suit their needs.

Elevating the Travel Shopping Experience

“Our approach to delivering airline content combines technology, innovation and traveler centric solutions to enable travel sellers to offer the right journeys to meet each traveler’s specific needs, all with a seamless shopping, booking and servicing experience.  Of course, NDC content and capabilities play a vital role in making this possible,” said Kamal Singhee, Senior Vice President, Airlines, North America at Amadeus.

This commitment to enhancing the shopping experience is what makes Amadeus a leader in travel technology. Their platform enables a seamless experience for both travel sellers and consumers, facilitating everything from flight discovery to booking and post-purchase services. With the addition of United Airlines’ NDC content, the overall booking process becomes even more efficient and streamlined.

Strengthening the United Airlines-Amadeus Relationship

The long-standing relationship between United Airlines and Amadeus has been marked by ongoing innovation and collaboration. Over the years, the two companies have worked together to integrate technology into the airline’s distribution model, improving efficiency for travel sellers and enhancing the customer experience.

Building upon our longstanding relationship with United Airlines will enable travel sellers to provide the full benefits of NDC content and technology to travelers in the United States and around the world.”

This partnership is particularly important as airlines continue to seek ways to modernize their distribution models. By working together, United Airlines and Amadeus are setting a benchmark for how technology and content can be integrated to meet the ever-evolving demands of travelers.

Broad Market Reach and Global Access

One of the key strengths of the Amadeus Travel Platform is its extensive market reach. With over 48,000 travel sellers across 155 markets, the platform provides unmatched global distribution capabilities. This wide-reaching presence is crucial for airlines like United, which operate on a global scale and need to make their flights accessible to a broad audience.

Through this agreement, travel sellers in these 155 markets will have access to United Airlines’ full range of flights, including both NDC and EDIFACT content. This ensures that whether travelers are booking from major hubs in the United States or from smaller markets around the world, they will have access to a comprehensive selection of fares and services.

Personalized Travel at the Forefront

One of the primary drivers behind the enhanced agreement is the growing demand for personalized travel experiences. Today’s travelers expect more than just a standard flight; they want options that are tailored to their specific needs, whether that’s additional baggage, flexible booking options, or in-flight services.

With the combination of NDC and EDIFACT content, travel sellers can offer more customization than ever before. The ability to deliver personalized services not only enhances the traveler’s experience but also creates opportunities for travel sellers to differentiate themselves in a competitive market.

United Airlines’ focus on delivering an enhanced shopping experience through personalized content aligns with Amadeus’ mission to bring more traveler-centric solutions to the forefront. Together, they are transforming the way travelers book flights, ensuring a more seamless and tailored journey.

A Future-Focused Partnership

The future of travel distribution is undeniably linked to technological advancements, and this partnership between United Airlines and Amadeus sets the stage for further innovations in the industry. As the travel landscape continues to evolve, so too will the technologies that support it.

The enhanced distribution agreement is just one step in the journey for both companies as they work together to meet the demands of an increasingly connected and personalized travel environment. United Airlines and Amadeus are not just responding to the current needs of travelers—they are anticipating the future and laying the groundwork for a more dynamic, efficient, and customer-focused travel experience.

The enhanced distribution agreement between United Airlines and Amadeus represents a significant advancement in the way travel content is distributed and booked. By combining NDC and EDIFACT content, travel sellers can offer a wider array of flights and personalized options to travelers around the world. This partnership highlights the growing importance of technology in travel distribution and sets the stage for further innovations in the years to come.

As United Airlines and Amadeus continue to work together, they will provide travel sellers with the tools they need to offer the most relevant and tailored travel experiences, ensuring that both the airline and the travel sellers remain competitive in an ever-evolving marketplace. This collaboration is a prime example of how partnerships and technology can work hand-in-hand to improve the customer experience and expand market reach globally.