KQ New Distribution Capability (NDC)

What is NDC?

New Distribution Capability (NDC) is a travel industry supported program launched by IATA for the development and market adoption of the new XML-based data transmission standard. This industry initiative is aimed to modernize the way air products are retailed to travel agents, corporations, and travellers.

About KQ NDC.

Kenya Airways being a leading digital retailer in Africa has adopted and implemented the IATA NDC standard to enhance its distribution capability with the travel agents,corporations and its customers.Our NDC API and standards are IATA certified and are open for any third party to implement and use. We are the first airline to introduce NDC at scale in the African continent.

How to access KQ NDC

1. Via NDC Agent Portal 

   Click on this link , fill the registration form and submit your registration request. An e-contract will be sent to the authorised signatory. Upon signing the e-contract, you will be receiving the log-in credentials to the Agent Portal in approximately 1 working day for IATA agents who already have ticketing authority with KQ in IATA BSP/ARC.

   Same timelines apply for Non-IATA agents with TIDS and who already have access to KQ Ticket stock in good standing.

   If you are a Non-IATA agent and you do not have TIDS registration, click on this link for getting TIDS code, which can be used in the above mentioned registration workflow.

2. Via NDC Aggregator

   Kenya Airways has launched NDC with Verteil Technologies as our first aggregator, and we have plans to onboard more aggregators including GDS companies in future.

   Verteil provides both browser-based access to Kenya Airways NDC content as well as support API based integrations.

   The Travel Agent can register at Verteil’s NDC portal to get access to aggregated NDC content from Kenya Airways and other airlines. For any assistance regarding connectivity for KQ NDC content, please reach out to Verteil via email at contact@verteil.com. The process of onboarding takes under 3 days once contractual terms are agreed between Verteil and the Travel Agent.

3. Via Direct Connect NDC API Only available for large Travel Agents and OTAs with significant bookings on KQ. To initiate discussion on this connectivity option, send the request to NDC@kenya-airways.com

• Benefits of KQ NDC

  The adoption of NDC standards will help overcome the current distribution challenges and enable the travel industry partners to realize benefits like:

  • Improved product differentiation and quicker time-to-market.
  • Access to full and rich air content.
  • A transparent shopping experience.

  Our Travel agents will enjoy most benefits for using KQ NDC .Among the reasons to adopt and connect with KQ on NDC includes:

  • Full access to the airline product portfolio including ancillaries and promotional fares.
  • Deliver improved comparison shopping to customers based on product and service rather than price only.
  • Provide personalized service to customers based on their travel history and preferences if they choose to be recognized at the time of shopping.
  • Early access to promotional fares and competitive booking classes.
  • Early access to new ancillary product launches.

  For the customers and travelers, NDC brings out the benefits like:

  • More choices :Option to select the most appealing travel option based on preferences which might range from product quality,service level to schedule and/or price.
  • Personalized offers:Receive personalized airline offers from your preferred agents and other resellers based on own travel history and other preferences.
  • Transparent product descriptions with photos and videos for ancillary offers.
• KQ NDC Roadmap:

  Features that we have already available in production:

  • Booking of flight segments
  • OW,RT and Open Jaw shopping options.
  • Select your preferred seat from the seat map.
  • Rich media images for all ancillaries
  • Connection to BSP/ARC.
  • Purchase excess bag(s).
  • Calendar search +/- 3 days.
  • Payment via BSP cash for IATA agents.
  • Servicing(Retrieve, change flights,ticket reissue and Refunds).
  • Pay via Bilateral Credit limit for non-accredited agents.
  • Servicing(Retrieve, change flights,ticket reissue).
  • Agent notification for involuntary changes.
  • Ticket time limit notifications.
  • Instant payments of orders.
  • Pay later option for orders.
  • Selected interline flights.
  • Agent notification via order change notifications

  Features under development. Available by end of 2022:

  • Offer upsell within the fare families.
  • Multi-city shopping for complex itineraries.
  • Pay via Bilateral Credit limit for non-accredited agents.
  • Credit card payment option.
  • IATA Easy pay option.
  • Agency commission handling.
  • Promo codes for both flights and ancillaries
  • Personalized shopping by Frequent flyer ID.
  • Personalization by agency code.
  • Personalization by corporate ID.
  • Support for 3DS.
  • Support for credit card fees.
  • Support for name changes.
  • Adding passengers to existing orders.
  • Track abandoned shopping carts and email reminders to agent.

  Future roadmap items 2023 Onwards:

  • Group booking.
  • Dynamic Pricing Engine.
  • Affinity shopping.
  • Live chat during shopping.
  • Other travel products (e.g. hotels, activities, trains, car rentals) via NDC API.
  • Show products/offers similar to those being searched or viewed.
  • Integration with KQ Loyalty for more personalization

To read the NDC FAQs click here