EDIFACT vs. NDC in Airline Travel Data Exchange

In a 2021 address, Hervé Prezet, Vice President of Industry & Expertise at Amadeus, asserted along the lines of how NDC might change the traditional GDS role and could possibly shift the dynames of travel-info distribution. When the travel sector was reeling under the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, GDS platforms such as Amadeus saw potential threats with the rise of the New Distribution Capability (NDC). Prezet acknowledged the changing landscape, drawing attention to how NDC direct agreements with major airlines including Air France-KLM, American Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and the International Airlines Group (IAG) could bypass traditional GDS systems. 

By 2021, Amadeus faced a potential dilemma with the increasing adoption of NDC-sourced content by airlines and OTAs. Amidst this transformational phase, Prezet noted an intriguing query that emerged on LinkedIn, “Why all the buzz around NDC? Given that we have EDIFACT in place, what’s the need for introducing a fresh setup?” A question, he realized, had a more profound implication than it appeared on the surface. Why were airlines and OTAs becoming increasingly inclined towards NDC? What made the industry see it as a potential threat to GDS platforms relying on EDIFACT? This, Prezet discerned, was not just any question it was pivotal to understanding the challenges GDS platforms like Amadeus could face in the future.

As we now approach the close of 2023, it’s essential to explore the growing disparities between NDC and EDIFACT. In this blog, we will highlight the limitations of EDIFACT in the contemporary travel landscape and address why its dominance is being overshadowed by NDC.

EDIFACT’s Origin Story: The 80s

In the technologically evolving landscape of the 1980s, the travel industry witnessed the emergence of EDIFACT – Electronic Data Interchange For Administration, Commerce, and Transport. It was ingeniously conceived to manage B2B communications within the travel sector.

Given the era’s technological limitations, where private networks with significant operational costs and constrained bandwidth prevailed, EDIFACT was meticulously designed to ensure communication efficiency. The primary aim was to economize message sizes to be cost-effective and bandwidth-friendly.

This strategic design led to the creation of distinct EDIFACT protocols that segmented the airline ticketing process into well-defined phases. Initially, travel agents consulted published fare charts, ascertaining airlines with competitive rates. Post this, they would check seat availability for the outbound segment. The subsequent steps involved a detailed review of the “Reservation Booking Designator” for each flight, determining the accessibility of the preferred fare type. Only after these validations was the actual booking initiated. This systematic, albeit intricate, procedure demanded repetition for the inbound journey, culminating in ticket issuance.

This methodological approach, while intricate, was what the 1980s travel infrastructure necessitated. Through EDIFACT, the travel industry found an optimized communication conduit between airlines, travel agencies, and airports, marking a significant leap in global travel connectivity.

What followed this in the 1990s was the advent of “shopping,” symbolizing a significant progression. However, it still leaned heavily on the concise EDIFACT protocols, necessitating precise sequencing for efficacy.

Yet, the zeitgeist of the 80s and 90s has long passed. While certain nostalgic fashion trends like leather jackets and oversized sneakers might be making a comeback, contemporary consumer behaviors have evolved dramatically. Today’s travelers, akin to global consumers, are accustomed to instant gratifications be it one-click purchases on platforms like Amazon, curated playlists on Spotify, or a tailored roster of movies and series on Netflix.

Modern travel retailers require a communication protocol that’s agile, malleable, and effortlessly customizable for diverse clientele demographics. Moreover, today’s travel landscape is vastly expanded and intricate compared to the bygone decades. The necessity now is for communication protocols that can seamlessly bridge a multitude of stakeholders. Many of these new entrants are likely to prefer XML over the effort of learning EDIFACT. 

Should the industry not evolve, there’s a looming risk that emerging innovators might gravitate towards more adaptive competitors, potentially sidelining the conventional travel market. This pressing need for evolution paved the way for the inception of NDC.

NDC: Shaping the Future of 21st Century Retail

The New Distribution Capability (NDC) emerged from a pressing necessity: the travel sector needed to align with contemporary digital retail practices. For travelers, the underlying technology remains inconsequential; their primary expectation is that the search and booking processes should be as straightforward as any other online purchase. Consequently, NDC’s premier advantage is its succinct retail process encapsulated in three actions: Shop, Order, Pay.

This methodological shift presents several benefits in comparison to EDIFACT. Notably, NDC enables travel merchants to deploy global actions, such as “OfferPrice”, facilitating a cumulative pricing of an entire journey in a singular move. The significance? A seemingly uncomplicated yet pivotal advancement. With EDIFACT, such expedited processes remain unattainable. Moreover, the clarity of NDC’s language also lays the foundation for more streamlined organizational processes, exemplified by innovations like ONE Order.

The NDC retailing process unlocks a plethora of possibilities, fostering dynamic package offerings and enhanced upselling opportunities. In an era where customer satisfaction is paramount for airlines and travel sellers, NDC ensures travelers receive the e-commerce experience they’ve grown familiar with in other facets of their lives.

Take Singapore Airlines as an instance; they’re innovatively utilizing promo codes to grant users augmented options, including bundled packages. Concurrently, agencies experimenting with the Air France-KLM NDC interface are exploring corporate package deals and continuous pricing models, transcending the customary restricted fare tiers.

Improved Content Quality and Superior Service

A fundamental distinction between EDIFACT and NDC is the consolidated creation of Offers and Orders by the airlines themselves. Essentially, aggregators furnish airlines with pertinent search contexts, such as selected routes, passenger details, and preferences. In response, airlines generate and present real-time offers containing pertinent information.

The ability for airlines to design these bundles and bookings sets the stage for the development of in-house algorithms, driving innovation forward. This equips them with the tools to align supply with demand, granting greater adaptability to experiment, and the flexibility to conduct A/B tests for novel offers across their entire distribution spectrum. Consequently, this also allows both airlines and travel retailers to tailor their propositions at every juncture of the customer journey, catering to diverse traveler profiles. For instance, they can devise exclusive promotions for certain corporations or present distinct offers to travelers equipped with frequent flyer points or promotional vouchers.

For instance, back in February 2021, American Airlines unveiled new NDC packages specifically tailored for NDC-equipped travel agents. This included a “Corporate Experience” bundle offering exclusive perks like complimentary access to preferred seating and priority benefits for Business Extra passengers.

Furthermore, NDC provides airlines with fresh avenues to effortlessly incorporate non-flight services into their packages, spanning destination amenities, airport shuttles, or vehicle hires. Moreover, NDC introduces innovative payment mechanisms, extending beyond traditional cash or credit card methods to include cryptocurrencies, subscription-based models, or direct settlements. 

Regardless of their chosen payment method, travelers have the peace of mind that their reservation is secure, having originated directly from the airline. Additionally, in partnership with Amadeus, NDC equips travel agents with tools to handle service adjustments during disruptions, an aspect that gained heightened significance in the wake of COVID-19.

Enabling Seamless Partnerships and Novelty

For a significant period, EDIFACT reigned as the go-to communication standard with every industry stakeholder. Consequently, only partners armed with the requisite technology could engage with an “EDIFACT-equipped airline.”

Such constraints made EDIFACT a barrier to numerous potential industry collaborations. To illustrate, Vueling, despite being part of the same airline group as British Airways, couldn’t transfer its passengers to British Airways flights due to its non-reliance on EDIFACT. However, this changed in November when the teams from Amadeus Altéa and Navitaire collaborated to develop a new NDC-centric client application. This allowed Vueling agents to promptly and efficiently transition passengers to a British Airways flight during interruptions.

Undeniably, EDIFACT hasn’t evolved sufficiently to cater to the dynamic and standardized shopping desires modern travelers anticipate across digital platforms. Its foundational data modeling was sculpted considering airline requirements, overlooking the necessities of other travel stakeholders like destination service providers or airport merchants. While it sufficed when travelers only sought flight tickets, the contemporary traveler desires broader flexibility and options – encompassing hotel stays, car rentals, Disneyland tickets, and access to airport lounges.

NDC and ONE Order, rooted in XML a universally recognized and employed language in the global IT landscape open the doors for enhanced collaborative opportunities and unbridled innovation. These are instrumental in addressing today’s and tomorrow’s industry hurdles. This refreshed “retailing vocabulary” is paving the way for nimble developments in tandem with startups and entities outside the travel domain, potentially accelerating innovation in the travel industry.

For the travel technology giant, Amadeus, transitioning from EDIFACT to NDC XML has not just been a technical shift. It has opened up vast avenues in Cloud technology, Artificial intelligence(AI), and Digital ID technology, reinforcing their position as pioneers in the travel industry. This strategic move has also been pivotal in attracting a new wave of top-tier engineers and developers. With the rollout of NDC, there’s a palpable excitement among the next generation of tech talent, keen to play a part in shaping the future of travel and its retail facets.

While the industry has been abuzz with talks about NDC for years, its real-world application seemed more of a future promise to many. But it’s now evident that NDC isn’t just on the horizon; it’s a present-day reality and shows no signs of fading.

Leveraging Modern Solutions with OneClick

Historically, EDIFACT dominated as the prime communication standard for the airline industry. But in the digital era, airlines and OTAs require a more versatile solution. Step into the future with OneClick, your partner for seamless NDC API integration. Why remain tethered to old systems when OneClick can unlock direct connections, freeing airlines from traditional GDS constraints?

Modern travelers demand broadened experiences more than what EDIFACT can provide. OneClick, harnessing the power of NDC, caters to these dynamic needs, offering streamlined hotel bookings, car rentals, and more. Built on the robust foundation of XML, OneClick encourages expansive collaboration and paves the way for rapid innovation, aligning with both emerging startups and veteran industry leaders.

Choose OneClick. Embrace the future of travel technology and liberate your business from outdated limitations.