Amadeus to Bypass Emirates GDS Fee, Access NDC Content

Amadeus has reached a new distribution agreement with Emirates that enables it to bypass the carrier’s global distribution system surcharge and integrate New Distribution Capability content into the Amadeus Travel Platform.

The agreement makes Emirates content available to Amadeus platform users free of surcharge starting Feb. 1. Emirates last year began charging a surcharge of $14 to $25 per ticket on GDS bookings. Travelport in July announced an agreement allowing its agencies to bypass the surcharge. Although Sabre’s agreement with Emirates expired last summer, temporarily removing Emirates content from its GDS, it reached an agreement with Emirates in October that also enabled its subscribers to bypass the fee.

Emirates’ agreement with Amadeus additionally will make NDC content available through the platform “over the course of 2022,” according to Amadeus. Travelport’s and Sabre’s agreements with Emirates each also included NDC content access.

Michael B. Baker  www.businesstravelnews.com