Tuesday, July 2, 2024 Qantas has announced the integration of interline flights with American Airlines into its dedicated New Distribution Capability (NDC) platform. This significant development allows travel management companies (TMCs) and travel agencies to access a wider choice of destinations via the Qantas Distribution Platform, which was launched in March. American Airlines is the first interline partner to be featured on the platform.
While the content available is currently limited—ancillary services are only bookable for segments operated or managed by Qantas—the integration represents a step forward in expanding the platform’s offerings. When shopping for travel options via the platform, Qantas-operated and marketed flights will be prioritized over interline options, though interline flights may be included as additional journey choices. Interline flights refer to travel arrangements where two or more airlines collaborate to transport passengers on a single journey under one booking.
This arrangement allows passengers to travel seamlessly across multiple airlines with coordinated schedules, baggage handling, and ticketing. For example, a passenger might fly from Sydney to Los Angeles on Qantas and then from Los Angeles to New York on American Airlines, all under one ticket. The New Distribution Capability (NDC) is a travel industry-supported program launched by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
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