United Airlines Teams Up with Travelport to Revolutionise Airline Distribution with NDC Technology: All You Need To Know

Published on December 3, 2025

United Airlines has entered a strategic partnership with Travelport to accelerate the adoption of New Distribution Capability (NDC), marking a significant milestone in the evolution of airline retailing. This collaboration aims to integrate United’s NDC technology into the Travelport Plus platform, providing travel agencies and corporate buyers with enhanced access to dynamic offers, bundling, and post-booking features. This partnership reflects a major shift towards modern retailing technology in the air travel industry.

Under this agreement, United Airlines will work alongside Travelport to co-develop NDC features, transforming the way airlines merchandise their products and services through global distribution systems (GDS). Unlike traditional models where airlines and GDS companies develop their systems separately, this partnership will see both entities collaborating in real-time to create a seamless, integrated experience. This approach is designed to eliminate the friction that has often plagued travel agencies and corporate buyers when using legacy GDS technology.

What the NDC Partnership Brings to Travel Agencies and Corporate Buyers

For travel agencies, the partnership provides a unified platform for accessing United’s NDC-enabled content, including bundled fares and a range of ancillary services. These services include options like extra-legroom seats, checked baggage, and even access to United’s MileagePlus loyalty programme. Agencies will also have access to corporate travel features, such as the ability to pool unused travel credits and use United Jetstream amenity funds for ancillary purchases.

For corporate travel managers, the new capabilities will simplify the booking and management of business travel. The integration of United’s Online Booking Tool (OBT) extras into Travelport Plus allows for easy selection of additional services tailored to corporate needs, such as streamlining the enrolment process for loyalty programmes and offering flexible payment options for both flights and extras. This improved access is designed to boost efficiency and enhance traveller satisfaction.

A Step Forward in Modern Airline Retailing

The collaboration between United Airlines and Travelport goes beyond just technology implementation, it represents a transformation in how airlines approach retailing. By embracing NDC, airlines can offer more personalised and dynamic offers, giving customers the ability to purchase bundled services tailored to their needs. These capabilities will be available to agencies and corporate buyers through Travelport’s Deem OBT platform, which integrates the benefits of NDC into an easy-to-use interface.

This shift towards modern airline retailing means that travellers will soon experience a more personalised shopping experience. Rather than being limited to standard fare options, customers will have the freedom to choose from a range of packages, including extras such as lounge access, seating upgrades, and other value-added services, all accessible through a single platform. These innovations promise to reshape the way travellers book and customise their trips, giving them greater flexibility and value.

Phased Rollout and Support for Agencies

The companies have outlined a phased rollout of these new capabilities, which will begin in 2026. The integration of NDC-powered features into Travelport Plus will be a gradual process, with the first phase focusing on enhancing dynamic offers and post-booking management for both agencies and corporate clients. This incremental approach ensures that agencies will have sufficient time to adapt to the new systems and take full advantage of the enhanced capabilities.

To ensure a smooth transition, United Airlines will provide specialised support teams for travel agencies, assisting them with the adoption of NDC technology. This support is aimed at maximising the value that agencies can derive from the partnership, ensuring they are fully equipped to leverage the new tools and features. United’s commitment to assisting agencies with this transition underscores the airline’s dedication to enhancing the customer experience and ensuring that all stakeholders are on board with the new technology.

The Future of Airline Distribution: United and Travelport Lead the Way

The collaboration between United Airlines and Travelport represents a significant step in the ongoing evolution of airline distribution technology. By aligning their efforts to co-develop NDC capabilities, both companies are setting a new standard for the industry, focusing on seamless integration, better merchandising opportunities, and more personalised offerings for customers.

For travel agencies, corporate buyers, and ultimately the passengers they serve, this agreement opens the door to a more dynamic, customer-centric model of air travel retailing. With NDC becoming the cornerstone of airline merchandising, United Airlines and Travelport are leading the way in modernising the booking and distribution process, ensuring a better, more personalised experience for all.

A New Era of Airline Retailing and Travel Technology

United Airlines and Travelport’s partnership to advance NDC is poised to revolutionise the way travel agencies and corporate buyers manage air travel. Through a unified platform, the collaboration will bring dynamic offers, enhanced customer flexibility, and more seamless integration of services, making it easier for all stakeholders to access and manage travel. As NDC technology becomes more widespread, the partnership between United and Travelport sets the stage for the future of airline retailing, with a clear focus on customer satisfaction, efficiency, and enhanced business operations.