12 November 2019

CTM extends NDC reach with tailored Qantas offers

November 2019 marks one year since Corporate Travel Management (CTM) launched live NDC content via its proprietary online booking tool, Lightning. This landmark achievement made CTM the first travel management company in Australia to bring NDC content to corporate customers. The sophistication of the airlines’ NDC capabilities and the range of offers in market continues to grow with IATA on target to exceed its NDC Leaderboard 20:20:20 target – 20% of the IATA NDC Leaderboard Airlines content to be distributed through NDC by 2020.

One year on, CTM remains at the forefront of live NDC booking capability in the corporate travel sector and continues to extend the reach of its live NDC content to more customers in more regions, with new and compelling targeted offers from airlines.

In partnership with Qantas, CTM has continued to bring to market Qantas NDC offers to an increasing number of corporate customers, including tailored corporate airfares with unique price points.

“As we approach our one-year anniversary since enabling live NDC content in Lightning, it’s both reassuring and rewarding to continue to drive the NDC’s journey of discovery with our partners at Qantas, by bringing more customised NDC offers to market for the benefit of our mutual customers” said CTM’s Global COO Laura Ruffles.

CTM’s NDC offers have ranged from fare discounts to bonus status credit offers, targeting both corporate accounts and individual travellers.

Acknowledging that the NDC’s evolution is still in its infancy, CTM is hosting a range of NDC Showcases around the globe to educate and empower corporate travel buyers on their NDC journey. The showcases bring together industry experts, CTM leaders and corporate travel buyers to demonstrate NDC booking capability in action, as well as provide a more complete understanding of the benefits and watch points that corporate customers should consider as part of the NDC’s evolution.

“The feedback from our recent NDC Showcase in Sydney was very positive”, said CTM’s Global Head of Partnerships, Scott Ward. “We have worked collaboratively with IATA for several years on NDC and, with their continued support and that of our industry partners and peers, we have been able to dispel many NDC myths and provide our corporate customers with greater clarity and confidence as they embark on their NDC journey.”

CTM’s Sydney NDC Showcase was attended by IATA, Qantas, Festive Road, Butler Caroye and corporate travel buyers. “This is the best session on NDC I have seen delivered by a TMC for their clients” said Mike Orchard, Festive Road.

Johanna Barnes from Lifeflight, a CTM customer, said “The latest Qantas NDC offer is providing Lifeflight with airfare pricing that is more competitive than we have seen under our standard agreement. As a CTM customer it’s reassuring to know that our company can access the best available content that meets our travel policy and traveller preferences, whether that’s NDC offers, GDS content or via an API, and within a completely seamless booking experience.”

Outside of Australia, CTM continues to extend its distribution agreements with NDC-ready airlines and is working on integration projects with multiple carriers globally including Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, British Airways and Cathay Pacific.

For more information about NDC, visit travelctm.com/ndc.