Australian travel technology company Aeronology will be launching its “new-architecture platform at the centre of the NDC solution” at the 23rd btTB Business Travel Conference taking place in Sydney on August 15.
This was revealed by CEO and founder Russell Carstensen, a panellist on btTB’s The NDC Session. In June, Carstensen gave a sneak preview of the platform’s capabilities at the CTC Singapore Corporate Travel Summit and this was followed up with two comprehensive online presentations attended by some 20 corporate travel managers (CTMs).
Carstensen told TTGmice its cloud-based and API-driven global B2B web-based platform was focused on connecting users – travellers, travel arrangers and TMCs – to the corporate travel ecosystem via NDC, GDS including TravelSky, LCCs, online booking tools (OBT), etc.
Carstensen, who has more than 25 years of industry experience, said the new-architecture platform was based on a previous version created before the pandemic.
He claims it is the “first truly global, independent booking portal – with multiple language options – to access all IATA airlines and LCCs, hotels, cruise line, car rentals, ancillaries, rail, tours and transfers”, and called the tool the “equivalent of Internet banking”.
Cost-wise, the user subscription fee is around US$4.50 per booking on top of TMC charges, while the IATA agent per-user fee is around US$130 per month.
CTMs TTGmice spoke to welcomed the “potential” of Aeronology’s technology to address the need for “content parity”, enable OBT changes, and create “an ecosystem” on one platform.
One CTM said: “If the platform can help to eliminate inconvenience and improve efficiency, we will consider paying for Aeronology.”
Another CTM said: “We are all looking for a platform that is future-ready (for NDC) but what does not change is the need for a tool that will be able to provide the best price available comparison, give access to the full range of inventory, continue to have a ticketing issuing timeframe and flexibility and the ability to make changes and cancellations at a reasonable fee.”
“Aeronology does not have the baggage with the legacy system and so far from what I have seen is really good,” he added.
According to Aeronology, IATA has announced that there will be a planned ticketing transition of the current NDC level of 15 per cent in 2023 to 80 per cent by 2026.
Carstensen observed: “It is critical for businesses to prepare themselves for the largest transaction transition in travel history, all expected in three years.”
To date, airlines moving fast and furious with NDC include American Airlines, Lufthansa, Qantas and Singapore Airlines.
Describing Aeronology’s tool as “very straightforward”, a third CTM said the live demonstration showed the different airline fares, including NDC fares and TMC fares immediately.
He opined that the product was “very good”, and would be useful, for the future. “Hopefully the platform would be able to help resolve the trouble we face with NDC refunds, which are more complicated,” he noted, adding that the product would probably be sustainable for the next five to 10 years.
