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Finnair plans complete switch to New Distribution Technology by 2025

Finnair will call time on traditional GDS technology and move wholly to New Distribution Capability (NDC) technology within the next three years.

That is according to Finnair senior vice-president for customer engagement Rogier Van Enk, who said the carrier was “fed up” supporting two data standards to facilitate distribution and retailing.

“We’re fed up with technology that is getting in our way, fed up with paying for two technologies,” he said. “Our goal is to ‘sunset’ legacy technology as fast as we can.”

Many airlines, analysts, travel management companies and agencies expect legacy GDS technology to persist for years alongside internet‑enabled, dynamically priced and personalised NDC distribution for third-party retailing.

But Van Enk said moving to NDC would allow airlines to do “world-class retailing” and incentivise customers with personalised products and services. He urged others to follow suit, saying: “We need everyone in the value chain to move at the same pace.”

Singapore Airlines reported it is in the final stages of testing dynamic pricing with agent partners as part of its NDC migration. Bryan Koh, divisional vice-president for e-commerce and distribution, said the carrier will offer personalised pricing and services previously only available on its website.

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