Can travel agents using Sabre GDS still sell Emirates after July 1st, or do they have to shift to another GDS?

It is no longer news that Travel Agents using Sabre GDS will not have access to Emirates content from July 01, 2021. The announcement have sent travel agents into uncharted territory as they try to figure out what’s best for them as a business.

What does this really mean for travel agents using Sabre GDS and their customers? A lot!

Starting July 1, 2021 there will be no Emirates content on GDS networks like Sabre (1S), and Abacus (1B). For travel agents who relied on Sabre GDS to sell Emirates’ for their clients, this is definitely a huge setback. However inconvenient and disruptive, this purported announcement is cushioned by Emirates’ plan to provide comprehensive guidance to now make these bookings on the NDC-backed Emirates Partners Portal, effective July 01, 2021.

The Emirates Partners Portal offer exclusive products, rich content, and services for travel agents through its NDC-enabled direct connect platform, Emirates Gateway, and/or Emirates certified technology providers ensuring travel agents are not left at lurch. A surcharge on all bookings made via Global Distribution Systems (GDS) will also kick in on the same day, ranging between US$14 and 25 per ticket depending on sector length.

This change was inevitable as Emirates is not the first airline to introduce the GDS surcharges. Singapore Airlines, Qantas, British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France KLM, etc., have all introduced GDS surcharges in the past, and more are expected to follow.

So what’s next for Travel agents?

A Travel agents’ focus has and will continue to be access to the best content from all sources in one screen, regardless of whether an airline participates in a GDS or not or if the airline is offering exclusive content through NDC channel or imposing GDS surcharges.

All this and more is now available to them on NDCMarketplace.com. The NDCMarketplace.com is a subscription-based IATA Level 4 Certified Aggregator developed by TPConnects.

TPConnects is the region’s largest travel technology provider and not a content provider; hence through NDCMarketplace.com, travel agents using Sabre GDS, can continue to use Sabre, without losing out on any segment incentive, while getting Emirates content through an NDC pipe with travel agents credentials (both Sabre and Emirates NDC results in one screen).

Since travel agents will be using their own NDC airline and GDS Online credentials and Form of Payment, they will not lose their Global Distribution Services (GDS) incentives, while avoiding the new GDS surcharges imposed by airlines like Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Qantas, British Airways, Lufthansa Group, Air France /KLM, etc. They can also save from the GDS distribution fees for NDC content through GDSs imposed by certain airlines like British Airways.

The benefits of NDCMarketplace.com are not only a bridge to access Emirates content along with GDS and LCC content in one screen, but 47+ NDC airline content on one screen effortlessly. NDCMarketplace.com additionally enables agents to create Sub Agents, provide access to unlimited number of staff, and create role permissions, add markups, use multiple currencies and much much more.

But that’s not all. Agents do not have to be an IATA accredited or approved travel agent to connect or access NDCMarketplace.com. Non-IATA Agents can also sell NDC and GDS-linked content through NDCMarketplace.com and make payments using a credit card.

To get started, visit NDCMarketplace.com and follow the simple steps for an easy setup. If you experience any challenges during the process, please contact the support team at sales@ndcmarketplace.com or chat via the chatbot on the website.

Happy Selling!