What is the NDC and what are the benefits for business travel?
The New Distribution Capability (NDC) has been transforming the travel industry over the last few years, particularly the way airlines deliver content. And yet, most people have never heard of it.
This guide aims to change that. NDC is very important, and we'll cover what it is, why it was built, what it means for your travel program, and how to make the most of it with the right travel partner.
Key Takeaways:
- NDC (New Distribution Capability) is an IATA data standard that lets airlines share richer fares, ancillaries, and offers directly with travel partners
- It was built to move airlines beyond EDIFACT, the legacy standard that locked fares into fixed booking classes with little detail
- For business travel, NDC opens up more airline content, better pricing opportunities, and offers tailored to each traveller
- Corporate Traveller is a Qantas Premium NDC Partner in Australia, part of Flight Centre Travel Group's 92% corporate adoption and more than 500,000 Qantas NDC segments booked since January 2026
What is NDC?
NDC stands for New Distribution Capability, a data transmission standard developed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). It sets the standards for how airlines share fare content, ancillaries, and offers with travel agents and travel management companies.
NDC is a standard; it is not a platform, a booking tool, or a database. Think of it as the shared language airlines and their distribution partners use to exchange richer, more detailed travel content.
Why was NDC created?
Airlines built NDC to break free from EDIFACT, the legacy standard that's carried fare data around the world for decades. It's reliable, but it was built for a different era. With EDIFACT, airlines are locked into fixed booking classes with little room to offer anything beyond a bare fare code.
How does NDC differ from traditional airline distribution?
NDC connects airlines directly to distribution partners via API, replacing the legacy EDIFACT standard. Fares can include ancillaries, pricing shifts in real time, and content displays with the kind of detail you'd normally only find on an airline's own website. That content still reaches you through your global distribution system (GDS); NDC just gives it more to work with.
Richer content and more offer detail
With NDC, bookers see seat maps, fare conditions, and what's included, all at the point of sale. Comparing two fares becomes a genuinely informed decision, not a guess.
Dynamic, real-time pricing
Legacy fares were published in fixed buckets. NDC-enabled pricing moves with demand, meaning fares can come down as well as go up. If your travel partner is set up to capture it, your program can benefit from that movement.
What are the benefits of NDC for business travel?
NDC was created to optimise the way you can shop, book, and service flights – bringing a modern e-commerce experience to air travel. As airlines continue to develop their own NDC offerings, the benefits for business travellers can include:
Access to more airline content
Select fares and ancillaries are only available through NDC content, not the EDIFACT data most programs still run on. If your travel program doesn't have NDC access, you're not seeing the full picture.
Better pricing opportunities
NDC can surface exclusive lower fares in certain scenarios, plus dynamic real-time pricing that shifts with demand. The savings potential varies by route, fare type, and airline, but the opportunity is real. One FCTG customer recorded annual savings of more than $140,000 after their program moved onto Qantas NDC.
More personalised offers
NDC enables airlines to tailor offers based on booking context, traveller history, and loyalty data, so travellers see options that better reflect their needs. For example, if your corporate agreement includes Wi-Fi, that can be surfaced at the point of booking.
A clearer shopping and booking experience
Richer content at the point of sale makes comparison easier. Travellers and bookers can see what each fare includes, compare seat options, and make better-informed decisions without jumping between the booking tool and the airline’s website.
More value and visibility for your travel program
For finance and procurement leads, NDC helps bring booking-channel content closer to what is actually available. That supports travel policy compliance, reduces out-of-policy leakage, and improves reporting visibility.
NDC vs Edifact airfare pricing: how much can you save?
Customers already using NDC are seeing real savings. Here are two recent examples that show how NDC fares stack up against traditional EDIFACT pricing:
| Route | Booking Class | EDIFACT fare | NDC fare | Saving |
| SYD-BNE (return) | Business class | $2,217 | $1,097 | $1,120 |
| MEL-SYD | Red e-Deal | $207 | $185 | $22 |
Multiply that across your company’s corporate travel program, and the savings start to add up quickly.
What should you consider before adopting NDC?
NDC adds genuine value, but a good rollout depends on a few key factors. Here's what to weigh up before you get started:
- Airline commitment and capability: NDC maturity varies by airline. Some have strong content and a clear strategy; others are still building. Your travel management company (TMC) should assess each carrier before enabling NDC content.
- Integration and testing: A smooth NDC rollout depends on rigorous end-to-end testing before anything goes live. At Corporate Traveller, we thoroughly test every airline integration to ensure the solution works for your program.
- Servicing: NDC bookings can involve different workflows, especially changes and cancellations. Be clear on those differences before you commit.
- Savings vs. servicing trade-offs: NDC fares can deliver real savings, but if servicing is slower as a result, that affects your SLA and your travellers' experience.
- Pricing and parity: Airline-direct pricing will not always match NDC pricing, and leisure deals often come without the policy controls, duty of care, or support a TMC provides.
Why should I opt into NDC with Corporate Traveller?
Getting NDC right takes more than switching it on. Corporate Traveller works with you to make sure NDC content fits your travel program, from booking workflows to payment and servicing. Here’s what that looks like in practice.
We’re a Qantas Premium Partner
Corporate Traveller has been Qantas Premium NDC Partner since 2025, and this partnership has been a revelation for our customers. Across Flight Centre Travel Group, 92% of corporate customers are now booking through the platform, with more than 500,000 Qantas NDC segments recorded since January 2026.
As Nikki Ping, Global Manager of Travel Distribution at FCM Travel and Corporate Traveller, put it: "We've reached a point where NDC isn't an experiment, it's becoming the default for corporate Australia."
“In a market where seats are harder to come by, and fares are under pressure, full NDC access means our customers aren’t leaving value on the table. Every dollar we save them is a dollar they can put back into growing their business.”
For Corporate Traveller customers specifically, Premium Partner status means access to the best available NDC fares and content and early visibility of new products.
It also provides integrated support for complex bookings and changes, through both our online booking tool (OBT) and offline through your dedicated Travel Manager.
Expert guidance from rollout to optimisation
NDC isn't something you turn on and leave. Our travel managers, who average nine years of experience, work with you to understand your program's needs and manage the transition so your travellers and bookers don't feel the friction. Whether you're booking online or through your dedicated travel manager, the experience is consistent and the support is there when you need it.
Access to richer content and better rates through our global supplier relationships
Corporate Traveller connects businesses to 400+ airlines, with NDC adding 70% more air content than single-source platforms for Australian programs. Multi-source air shopping delivers an average 7% air saving, up to 11%, on top of what a single-source platform would find, and we meet or beat direct airline booking pricing 98% of the time.
A smarter, lower-friction booking experience
Richer airline content through NDC doesn't have to mean more complexity. Inside our online booking platform, NDC fares sit alongside all other content in a single, streamlined search. Your policy is applied automatically with your preferred options surfaced first, and your travel manager is there when the booking gets complicated.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs): NDC & Corporate Traveller
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What is NDC?
The New Distribution Capability (NDC) is an airline industry standard that gives travel buyers access to richer fares, tailored offers, and more transparent pricing directly from airlines. It’s a data transmission standard, not a platform, software, or database.
NDC is always changing, so check the official International Air Transport Association (IATA) website for more up-to-date information.
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How does Corporate Traveller support NDC?
Corporate Traveller is Australia's largest and most highly adopted New Distribution Capability (NDC) deployment and holds Qantas Premium NDC Partner status.
That means access to lower fares, reduced surcharges, exclusive seat selection benefits, and differentiated pricing not available through standard channels. Your travel policies continue to apply to NDC bookings, and your Travel Manager can walk you through how NDC content works for your specific program.
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What partnerships does Corporate Traveller have?
Corporate Traveller partners with 400+ airlines, major hotel groups, and leading car hire brands globally. Backed by Flight Centre Travel Group, customers get access to exclusive rates, negotiated perks, and broader travel choice across flights, accommodation, and ground transport, all in one platform.
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What airline partnerships does Corporate Traveller have?
Corporate Traveller gives you access to 400+ airlines worldwide, including:
Backed by Flight Centre Travel Group’s global supplier relationships, customers get exclusive corporate fares, preferred seating, extra baggage, and the ability to earn loyalty points on every booking.
Our team works hard after you've booked too, finding airfare savings of up to 30% on average, and delivering the same or better pricing than booking direct 98% of the time.
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What hotel partnerships does Corporate Traveller have?
Corporate Traveller's hotel network gives you access to over 2 million properties worldwide, including major groups like:
Through Stay Plus, you'll get discounts of 15–30% off standard rates, savings of up to $180 per night through included amenities, and bonus loyalty points at 70% of hotels across 24,500+ exclusive properties in 141 countries.
Plus, Corporate Traveller's Hotel and Air Optimiser keeps searching for savings even after you've booked, finding better deals 33% of the time, with an average saving of $140 per hotel booking.
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What car hire partnerships does Corporate Traveller have?
Corporate Traveller's car hire partners include Avis, Hertz, Budget, Enterprise, and Thrifty, giving you access to 10,000+ locations worldwide. Through Drive Plus, you'll save up to 17% off car rentals, with all bookings manageable through Your.CT alongside your flights and hotels.
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What is Corporate Traveller's travel management software?
Your.CT is Corporate Traveller’s all-in-one travel platform. Book flights, hotels, cars, and more in just a few clicks. No fuss, no guesswork, and always in policy!
Then approve, track, analyse, and report from a single intuitive location. Your.CT puts all your essential data in one place. It’s the perfect tool to keep all your teams happy, in the know, and on the move.
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What is Corporate Traveller's relationship with Flight Centre Travel Group?
Corporate Traveller is part of the Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG), one of the world’s largest travel companies. We are a core business division within FCTG, which means:
- You can get better rates through FCTG's global supplier relationships
- We benefit from shared technology investment (including the AI Centre of Excellence)
- We have the stability and support of a global travel leader, with over 30 years of experience and travel managers with 9+ years’ experience on average
- You benefit from negotiated rates that many smaller TMCs find harder to match