Overview

NDC (New Distribution Capability) is an IATA (International Air Transport Association) standard that defines how airlines communicate their flight inventory, pricing, and ancillary services directly to travel agencies and third-party developers. It is not a company or a product — it is an open XML-based data schema that airlines implement to enable modern, content-rich distribution without GDS intermediaries.

Before NDC, airlines could only distribute their inventory through GDS systems (Amadeus, Sabre, Travelport) using decades-old EDIFACT protocols that could not support modern content like seat maps, ancillary services, or personalised pricing. NDC allows airlines to expose this rich content directly. For developers, NDC means you can potentially build a direct airline connection that provides richer data than any GDS — but each airline has its own NDC implementation, making aggregators like Duffel, AirGateway, and Amadeus NDC Connect valuable intermediaries.

Pros & Cons