Decoding NDC for Airline Distribution

New Distribution Capability (NDC) is an industry-backed, XML-based data transmission standard designed to enhance communication between airlines and travel agents. It is open to any third party, intermediary or IT provider, and promises greater flexibility to sell ancillary products and to introduce more personalized and dynamic offers. 

 Airlines are increasingly adopting NDC to enable richer product offerings, streamline sales and enhance the customer experience. At the same time, using data effectively has become critical to optimizing revenue, operational performance and strategic planning. 

 A leading international organization of the air transport industry wanted a clear, independent view of these two topics: the market for NDC solutions, and data strategy for airlines.

The organization needed fact-based international studies covering two areas of airline distribution: 

• The NDC solutions market: an analysis of the IT solutions offered by NDC-certified providers, the current state of offerings and the critical success factors. 
• Data strategy for airlines: an understanding of the major data trends, the essential steps for an airline to build a robust data strategy, and the potential value and impact of each step. 

Sia carried out several international studies on airline distribution, focused on two main areas: 

• International market analysis of NDC solutions: Sia analyzed the IT solutions developed by more than 20 prominent NDC-certified providers. The comprehensive market study gave key insights into the current state of NDC offerings and identified critical success factors. 
• Air retailers, unlocking the value of data: Sia analyzed major trends in data strategy for airlines. The study outlined the essential steps for an airline to build a robust data strategy, with a business case for each step to demonstrate its potential value and impact. 
• Recommendations: Sia synthesized the findings into recommendations for airlines to optimize distribution channels, enhance NDC implementation and use data for operational and commercial advantage. 

The studies gave the organization a structured view of the NDC solutions landscape, including the critical factors that separate successful offerings, and a practical roadmap for airlines to build a data strategy, with a business case for each step. 

By combining deep knowledge of the travel and transport industry, rigorous international market analysis and a business-case approach, Sia helps airlines and their ecosystem turn distribution change and data into measurable value.