What is Duffel?

Duffel is a London-based travel technology company that has built a unified REST API connecting travel businesses directly to airlines through NDC (New Distribution Capability) — the IATA standard for direct airline-to-agency data exchange that bypasses traditional GDS intermediaries.

The traditional approach to flight booking requires travel agencies to access inventory through GDS systems (Amadeus, Sabre, Travelport), which add cost, complexity, and latency to every transaction. Duffel replaces this with a clean, modern REST API that speaks directly to airlines, delivering richer content (like seat maps, ancillaries, and branded fares) that GDS systems often lack.

Duffel is backed by Benchmark, Index Ventures, and other leading VCs, and has grown rapidly among developer-led travel startups. Major airlines accessible via Duffel include British Airways, Lufthansa, American Airlines, Air France, Emirates, Qantas, and more. Indian carriers are expanding their NDC participation, making Duffel increasingly relevant for India-based travel portals.

Core API Capabilities

Quick Start

1. 1
   Sign up at duffel.com — instant account creation, no waiting for approval. You get sandbox access immediately.
2. 2
   Get your API token — from the Duffel dashboard, generate a test token (prefixed duffel_test_) for sandbox use.
3. 3
   Make your first search — send a POST to /air/offer_requests with origin, destination, date and passenger count.
4. 4
   Retrieve offers — GET /air/offers?offer_request_id=XXX to receive live flight options with pricing.
5. 5
   Create an order — POST to /air/orders with the selected offer ID and passenger details to book the flight.
6. 6
   Go live — swap your test token for a live token (duffel_live_) after completing the Duffel go-live checklist.

Sample API Request

// Step 1: Create an offer request
POST https://api.duffel.com/air/offer_requests
Authorization: Bearer duffel_test_XXXXXXXXXX
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "data": {
    "slices": [{
      "origin": "DEL",
      "destination": "LHR",
      "departure_date": "2025-12-20"
    }],
    "passengers": [{"type": "adult"}],
    "cabin_class": "economy"
  }
}

// Response
{
  "data": {
    "id": "orq_0000A8fNGXWxFXBIVlnMqQ",
    "slices": [...],
    "passengers": [...],
    "offers": [
      {
        "id": "off_0000A8fNH2XNXBIVlnMrZ",
        "total_amount": "42350.00",
        "total_currency": "INR",
        "base_amount": "38200.00",
        "tax_amount": "4150.00",
        "expires_at": "2025-11-01T10:00:00Z"
      }
    ]
  }
}

Pricing

Duffel charges a small fee per booking — typically $0.50 to $1.50 per order depending on volume and airline. There are no monthly fees or minimum commitments. For high-volume partners, custom pricing is available. The test environment is completely free with no booking charges.

Pros & Cons