Enabling NDC for a Flight Booking Engine

Client

The client is a leading global cruise line that offers thoughtfully designed itineraries that invite travelers to explore iconic destinations. In addition to cruises, the trip cost includes flights to and from the cruise departure and return locations. As such, they strive to provide customers with high-end itineraries designed for optimal comfort.

Challenge

Previously, the client had partnered with DataArt to build their flight booking engine, which assisted in finding the best flight options to include in cruise packages. Witnessing the growing presence of the New Distribution Capability (NDC) in the travel landscape, they wanted to remain innovative and equip their flight booking engine with NDC data.

The client and DataArt continued their joint work on the flight booking engine with a new focus on NDC enablement.

Location

Global

Industry

Travel Tech Solutions

DataArt Expertise and Approach

To ensure alignment on expectations for the timing and requirements of NDC enablement, the project started with a two-day workshop and several follow-up planning sessions.

Led by DataArt’s Solution Advisors (DSA), the workshop brought together major client stakeholders and leveraged the Connect Framework to investigate how to implement NDC in a way that complemented the client’s long-term business goals, flight booking engine functionality, and seamless integration with cruise packages.

Leveraging knowledge base and strong partnership

Since NDC is a novel travel industry technology, a deep understanding of its technical requirements, advantages, and challenges was a crucial component of the implementation journey.

With the guidance of the in-house Travel Agency Solutions team, DataArt was able to begin the project with existing deep knowledge on NDC. A strong understanding of the technology reduced risks and helped define a tangible project scope.

In addition to having a strong understanding of NDC, the Travel Agency Solutions team had also been working on a Proof of Concept (POC) for an NDC search engine, which was used to support and reinforce roadmap planning.

Additionally, given that DataArt had previously worked with the client on their flight booking engine, the team was readily aware of the intricacies of the booking system, able to propose well-informed methodologies and eliminate time spent on learning how it works.

The Solution

Through the partnership, the client and DataArt sequenced NDC enablement for the flight booking engine into 6 phases. Projected to be completed by mid-2025, this segmentation ensures that the client can continue current operations and implement NDC in a phased manner, granting agents time to get familiar with the technology and accommodating any potential evolution of the capability.

Beyond providing the flight booking engine with NDC enablement, a large goal of the project is to preserve the flexibility that is currently permitted by traditional GDS bookings. With the aim of maintaining high customer satisfaction, careful consideration is being given to formulating an approach that continues permitting travelers to seamlessly make changes to their flight details and specifications.

Specific Technologies Used on the Project:

Azure Application Insights
Azure Cache for Redis
Azure Cosmos DB for MongoDB
Azure Communication Services
Azure Container Registry
Azure Event Hubs Namespace
Azure Function App
Azure Key Vault
Azure Kubernetes Service

Azure Load Balancer
Azure SQL Server
Azure SQL Database
Azure Service Bus Namespace
Azure Managed Identity
Azure Logic App
REST API
Sabre GDS and NDC
JSON

The Takeaways

Support through POCs

The Travel Agency Solutions Team’s NDC Search engine POC served as reinforcement in both planning and development phases of the project, allowing the team to make informed decisions and preliminarily work through NDC changes and challenges.

Molded to the System

Intimate knowledge of the client’s Air Booking System ensured that NDC enablement aligned with existing, GDS-supported functionality.

Collaborative Planning

Through the strong emphasis on collaboration and communication provided by the Connect Framework, frequent discussions and candid conversations fostered a trusting, transparent, and friendly project environment.

Optimal flight data access

Working with Sabre to connect both GDS and NDC data into the Air Booking System allows the client to widen their range of available flights, facilitating the identification of best fit options.

Lasting Partnership

A successful track record of projects jointly completed by DataArt and the client paves the way for future collaboration and contributes to an open, innovative dynamic.

About DataArt Travel Agency Solutions

DataArt Travel Agency Solutions combines deep domain expertise of the travel industry with DataArt’s proprietary Connect Framework to address the evolving needs of travel agencies.

Through a team that is familiar with both the industry landscape and emerging technologies, Travel Agency Solutions effectively navigate the business complexities and nuances of the modern travel market.

To learn more about Travel Agency Solutions and our experience with technology integration, operational optimization, strategic consultation, innovation & R&D, check out our landing page.

To learn more about how we can assist your agency and its needs, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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