Introducing our improved NDC program
We’re modernizing our product distribution to offer more personalized content at the best possible prices, now enabled by New Distribution Capability (NDC) technology.
Our improved NDC program will provide you—our agency partners— with a tailored experience, additional content, and new servicing capabilities that will create even more choices for our mutual customers. Explore all the benefits and options available below, and then start your journey with us.
As customer needs evolve, airlines around the world are modernizing their retailing capabilities by leveraging new technologies such as NDC to mitigate the technological limitations and increased costs of legacy EDIFACT distribution models. NDC is an industry-supported distribution standard launched by IATA that can improve our mutual customers’ travel experience by transforming the shopping and servicing between airlines and travel agents.
We are pleased to now offer an improved NDC program as a competitive alternative, which will allow us to provide you with Air Canada's complete offerings at the best possible prices. Plus, we’re here to help you every step of the way.
Key highlights
Content Description | GDS EDIFACT channel | Air Canada NDC channel | Air Canada direct channels |
---|---|---|---|
Published fares and Air Canada for Corporate negotiated bundles | |||
Air Canada for Business offers | |||
Promotional codes | |||
Flight Pass | Planned addition | ||
Continuous pricing | Planned addition | Planned addition | |
Additional Content | |||
Domestic Basic fares | |||
Best available seat inventory | * | * | |
Discounted ancillary pricing on paid and Preferred Seats | * | * | |
Other Benefits | |||
Elimination of select debit memos | |||
No distribution cost recovery (DCR) |
* Available June 14, 2023
With our improved NDC program, you can look forward to exclusive benefits, new servicing capabilities, as well as additional content and incentives to help you offer our mutual customers Air Canada’s complete content at the best possible prices.
Featured benefits:
Access to the most comprehensive Air Canada content
- Air Canada for Business offers
- Air Canada for Corporate negotiated bundles
- Meetings and events access
- Promotional codes
- Optional ancillary services
- Maple Leaf Lounge access
- Advanced and Preferred Seat selection
- Air Canada Bistro meal vouchers
- Continuous pricing (planned addition)
- Flight Pass (planned addition)
An efficient shopping experience for all retail fare products
- Aeroplan recognition throughout every step
- Personalization with an authenticated shopping experience
- Access to Air Canada’s rich content across the booking experience
- Dynamic content beyond the expected fares, schedules, and inventory information
Elimination of select debit memos
No distribution cost recovery (DCR)
New servicing functions:
Core servicing capabilities
- Retrieve, change, cancel, void, refund, automated travel readiness in case of flight disruptions
- Additional self-serve options (planned addition)
- Order change notifications
Increased service and support levels
- 24/7 monitoring
- Near real-time system performance status
- Dedicated commercial, sales and tech support
- Clear escalation procedures
Additional content
Domestic Basic fares
Best available seat inventory (available June 14, 2023)
Discounted ancillary pricing on paid and Preferred Seats (available June 14, 2023)
NDC coupon incentive
To support agency transition, an NDC coupon incentive will be applicable to eligible NDC bookings made directly with an Air Canada NDC API connection or via select NDC certified technology partners.
The incentive will be paid to the travel agency per flight coupon as specified per planned eligible regions below. The NDC coupon incentive will be available in Canada for eligible NDC bookings made as of June 14, 2023, and expected to remain in market until at least December 31, 2024.
For full eligibility and offer details, please contact your Air Canada account manager. Additional region availability noted below with implementation date to be publicized on a progressive basis.
- Denmark
- France
- Germany
- Ireland
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Argentina
- Australia
- Chile
- Colombia
- Hong Kong
- Israel
- Japan
- Mexico
- Panama
- Peru
- South Korea
- Taiwan
We’ve developed a wide range of ways to access the NDC retail benefits to best match your business. Explore our connection options and find out how to get started below.
Air Canada NDC API
This is the right solution for you if you are:
A travel agent with your own platform
A technology provider looking to connect your own platform
Designed for technology providers or travel agencies with their own application, the Air Canada NDC API will give you access to Air Canada’s enhanced content and functionality, as well as a whole range of exciting features.
- Refund to original form of payment
- Void per eligibility
- Retain credit value for future travel
Learn more about new features being planned at ndc.aircanada.com/roadmap.
* Customers, via the Air Canada self-reaccommodation application, can cancel or make one change free of charge if their flight(s) was affected by a schedule change or flight cancellation.
** Servicing involuntary exchanges via Air Canada NDC API will be introduced later this year.
Getting started
Follow the steps below to begin integrating the Air Canada NDC API into your business.
1. Register and get started
- Fill out the form below to register your business and create your account.
- Gain access to the Air Canada NDC API.
- The distribution team will review your information and be in touch with the tools you need to start your integration.
2. Build, integrate and test
- Build your integration with our latest documentation and tools provided upon registration.
- Submit any queries in the NDC Support Portal. The team will be happy to assist you with implementation once you request your login.
- Update your displays based on Air Canada’s display requirements.
API version and technical documentation
We support version 2017.2 API schema and have achieved NDC@Scale certification from IATA. We encourage you to develop towards the 2017.2 XML schema to gain access to all the exciting features and content from Air Canada.
We are continuously updating and introducing more features, so we encourage users of our NDC API to always reference and use our latest documentation where we will post news on upcoming planned releases as they become available.
3. Get certified and go live
- Complete your display certification test cases.
- Receive approval from a member of Air Canada’s distribution team.
- Get live access and you’re ready to go!
Air Canada NDC technology partners
This is the right solution for you if you are:
A corporation looking to connect with an Air Canada certified technology partner
A travel agent looking to connect your own platform to an Air Canada certified technology partner
With our extensive network of certified technology partners, we offer a wide range of functionality and technical services for corporations and travel agents. Get started by choosing one of our trusted partners and follow the link to contact them directly.
If you are a new technology provider looking to connect, check out our own NDC API.
Technology partners
Find our selection of certified partners and leaders in eCommerce travel solutions, for travel agents to tailor our products and content to their business needs.
Online booking tool partners
Our online booking engine providers offer interfaces that enable our agency partners and corporate customers with the easiest solutions to find and book their preferred flights.
Amadeus Travel Platform and Sabre Travel Marketplace
This is the right solution for you if you are:
A corporation looking to connect with an Air Canada certified technology partner
A travel agent looking to connect your own platform to an Air Canada certified technology partner
Access Air Canada’s NDC content via a GDS-based solution with the Amadeus Travel Platform* and Sabre Travel Marketplace **.
* Beginning June 14, 2023
** Available in the coming months
Air Canada Connex
This is the right solution for you if you are:
A travel agent looking for our free, desktop platform
Air Canada Connex is Air Canada’s free and intuitive desktop booking tool designed for agencies. Get access to Air Canada’s enhanced content and a whole host of functionalities, features and capabilities for your business.
Sign up and gain access to:
Full content from Air Canada
Access to all Air Canada NDC features
Profile integration and management
Data integration for accounting and invoicing
Dashboard and reports
For more information, learn more about Air Canada Connex in our FAQs.
Currently in Canada and using aircanada.com/agents? There’s no need to change your current process. Bookings through aircanada.com/agents have access to the full range of Air Canada content and fares and will not be subject to Air Canada’s distribution cost recovery for any booking made via its direct channels.
We recognize the efforts and resources involved in transitioning to new technology; that’s why we’re committed to helping you every step of the way with dedicated support and regular communication.
Many of our agency partners have already begun implementing NDC connectivity and have been at the core of informing our implementation plans. Hear more from our partners below.
Frequently asked questions
Program and commercial
NDC (New Distribution Capability) is a travel industry-supported distribution standard launched by IATA for the development and market adoption of a new, XML-based (Extensible Markup Language) data transmission standard. NDC can improve the customers’ travel experience by transforming the shopping and servicing between airlines and travel agents, allowing for product differentiation, providing access to full and rich content, and offering a transparent shopping experience.
Why is Air Canada introducing an improved NDC program?
Air Canada is modernizing its product distribution strategy to encourage the use of advanced technology and enable agents to better meet evolving customer needs and address increasing global competition. With its improved NDC program, Air Canada will provide a competitive alternative to legacy GDS EDIFACT distribution models to mitigate increased costs and technological limitations, which currently reduce access to Air Canada’s complete offerings at the best possible prices.
Air Canada’s NDC program offers a modern shopping and servicing experience that allows for personalized content and fares, richer product information and optional services for leisure and corporate customers.
Where is Air Canada’s NDC program offered?
Air Canada’s NDC program is currently offered in Canada, with the planned expansion into the following regions throughout 2023: United States, Australia, and United Kingdom.
Starting in 2024, we will begin expanding into the following regions: Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Peru, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Taiwan (China).
What is best available seat inventory?
To help incentivize agency transition, Air Canada will implement favourable business rules to ensure its best available seat inventory is made available for bookings made via its NDC program as well as its other direct channels. While seat inventory availability rules from legacy channels will remain unchanged, these additional business rules will result in booking classes being available longer in NDC and other direct channels.
Will more features and capabilities be added?
Yes, Air Canada is committed to the long-term future of NDC technology and are investing in additional features and capabilities.
What are the operational benefits of Air Canada’s NDC program for agencies?
Air Canada’s NDC program offers easy access to all offers and rules, making Air Canada accountable for the compliance associated with booking and servicing, the avoidance of select debit memos, control of the booking to support and service customers, and real-time messaging via Order Change Notifications.
What select debit memos are eliminated when using Air Canada’s NDC program?
Bookings made using Air Canada’s NDC channel are not subject to select debit memos such as refund, exchange, commission application, tax and fare calculation errors, and select CRS (Computer Reservation Systems) cost recovery memos.
Why is Air Canada introducing a distribution cost recovery (DCR) and how does it apply?
As part of Air Canada’s overall effort to modernize product distribution, a Distribution Cost Recovery (DCR) will be introduced to address the cost of legacy distribution models, which have risen at several times the rate of inflation over the past decade and are no longer sustainable. This DCR is applicable to all tickets issued globally via GDS EDIFACT channels, effective as of June 14, 2023.
The DCR does not apply to bookings made via any of Air Canada’s NDC connection options including NDC-sourced content in a GDS solution, as well as through Air Canada’s other direct booking channels such as aircanada.com, aircanada.com/agents, Air Canada for Business, and the Air Canada mobile app, or group bookings made on G-Cubed for Canadian and US-based agencies.
What is legacy GDS EDIFACT technology?
EDIFACT (Electronic Data Interchange for Administration, Commerce, and Transport) is the legacy technology that has been used by the industry since the 1980s. It is the main third-party distribution method used by Global Distribution Systems (GDS) to access airline content like schedules, fares and availability from the airline. EDIFACT technology is limited as its text based and does not allow for rich content to be displayed.
How does Air Canada’s NDC program impact me if I already use Air Canada’s direct channels?
Travel agencies using Air Canada’s direct booking channels (such as Air Canada for Business or as a travel agent via AirCanada.com or Air Canada Connex) will continue to have access to the full range of Air Canada content and fares and will not be subject to Air Canada’s distribution cost recovery for any booking made via its direct channels.
Will there be other GDS options added?
Amadeus is Air Canada’s first GDS partner to connect to Air Canada’s NDC program as of June 14, 2023.
We've also partnered with Sabre as an additional GDS partner, providing agencies and travel buyers with another GDS-based NDC connection option. Agents will be able to access a full range of Air Canada’s NDC-sourced content via their existing Sabre access beginning later in 2023*.
Air Canada is looking to provide other GDS connection options in the future.
*Available in the coming months
What is the NDC coupon incentive?
To support agency transition, NDC coupon incentive will be applicable to eligible NDC bookings made directly with an Air Canada NDC API connection or via select NDC certified technology partners.
The incentive will be paid to the travel agency per flight coupon as specified per planned eligible regions below. The NDC coupon incentive will be available in Canada beginning on June 14, 2023, and expected to remain in market until at least December 31, 2024.
For full eligibility and offer details, please contact your Air Canada account manager. Additional region implementation dates will be publicized on a progressive basis.
Technical and implementation
What are the available options to access Air Canada’s NDC content?
There are currently four NDC access methods. Your agency can choose the solution that best fits its business model:
- Direct integration: Reliable Air Canada NDC API services with 24/7 monitoring and support.
- Existing technology aggregator partners: Certified technology partners offering a wide range of functionality and technical options.
- GDS solution: Amadeus Travel Platform offers agencies an integrated solution with their business processes. Contact to your Amadeus account manager for more information.
- Free desktop platform: Air Canada Connex provides agencies with a free, web-based intuitive booking tool with easy registration.
Who can use Air Canada’s NDC API?
The Air Canada NDC API is open to agencies, any third-party intermediaries or IT providers and third-party applications like Metasearch, Corporate Booking Tools (CBTs) or Online Travel Agencies (OTAs). The NDC API enables the travel industry to transform the way Air Canada’s products are retailed to corporations, leisure, and business travellers, by offering an improved shopping experience.
What is the turnaround time to connect via Air Canada NDC API?
The timeframe to implement Air Canada’s NDC content into your booking tool using the Air Canada NDC API, or with the help of one of Air Canada's certified technology partners, will vary with each provider.
Can travel agents modify bookings using Air Canada’s NDC API?
Yes, Air Canada offers comprehensive servicing capabilities which enables customers and agencies to make voluntary changes to itineraries for all markets before or after travel commences. This includes adding or changing optional services and/or seat selection.
Which forms of payment are supported in the Air Canada NDC API?
The following forms of payment are currently accepted:
- Credit card
- BSP Cash in Canada
- UATP
Are all Air Canada NDC features available through all certified technology providers?
Although Air Canada’s NDC features are made available to all certified technology providers connected to our Air Canada NDC API services, they manage their roadmap and may opt to support some or all features. Refer to your technology provider for more information and to get access to the latest features they support and offer.
If your agency is using a third-party provider or a GDS connection, you will need to work with them directly to evaluate options offered by their technology services to facilitate integration with your accounting system.
For Air Canada NDC API users, Air Canada will introduce a tool later this year to export the reservation data into a formatted file which your accounting system can intake.
For AC Connex agency subscribers, you will have access to a file with formatted data that is compatible and can integrate with most back-office providers. This will be part of your agency configuration profile set up.
Does Air Canada support the use of passive segment in the GDS?
The use of passive segments is not supported except for group PNRs with OAL segments. Certain other exceptions may exist depending on your GDS provider. Please contact your GDS provider for procedural information to address your specific requirements including invoicing or back-office needs. Please contact your sales account manager for questions regarding the Air Canada CRS Booking & Ticketing Policy.
When booking via Air Canada’s NDC program, Air Canada is responsible to price all offers and issue the ticket, removing the possibility of pricing errors and allowing agencies to avoid select debit memos related to these types of errors.
What happens to the booking when there is a schedule change?
Air Canada will handle all bookings that are impacted with a schedule change and will rebook the customer. Your agency provider will be notified via an Order Change notification to update your records. The customer will be notified and is redirected to the Air Canada website to make a change (free of charge) or refund the booking if it no longer meets their travel arrangement.
What is Air Canada Connex and how do I sign up?
Air Canada Connex is our free, web-based intuitive booking tool designed for travel agencies to get access to Air Canada’s additional content and a whole host of functionality, features and capabilities for your business. Following a successful pilot phase, Air Canada Connex is now available to all agencies in Canada.
Signing up for Air Canada Connex is easy. Simply register online, and your agency will receive login credentials within 7 business days to set up your account and get you started after validation by Air Canada.
What countries are Air Canada Connex available in?
Air Canada Connex is currently only available for agencies in Canada. Air Canada is working on expanding our NDC program to support settlement and reporting solutions by the latter part of this year for the major Points of Sale, including the United States and international hubs.
Can my agency modify bookings via Air Canada Connex?
Yes, your travel agents can make voluntary changes to an itinerary for all markets before or after travel commences. This includes the ability to add or change optional services and seat selection.
Which forms of payment are supported in Air Canada Connex?
We currently accept the following forms of payment:
- Credit card
- BSP Cash in Canada
- UATP
If my agency has questions about the Air Canada Connex tool or a technical issue, who do we contact?
Technical support and queries related to Air Canada Connex are supported by Farenexus, a web tool service provider. To report an issue or query related to Air Canada Connex, please contact the support team via email at acconnex@aircanada.ca or directly through the online service desk.
Please note that providing as much information as you can, including screenshots when relevant, will help in assisting you in a timely manner.
Air Canada NDC API - Support
If you are a current user and are looking for assistance with development, or to report technical issues with the Air Canada NDC API, please log in to the Air Canada NDC support portal and raise a query.
If you want to become a user and are ready to integrate your own application with the Air Canada NDC API, complete our registration form to register, request access and begin your implementation.
Air Canada NDC program - Get started
Please note: by filling out the below form, you agree to Air Canada’s use of the personal information that you provide throughout this form for the purpose of better understanding your agency’s needs. You also agree to the sharing of this information with one of Air Canada’s service provider (which may transfer and store your personal information in the United States of America) for the purpose of delivering this form to you.
Thank you for filling out the questionnaire!
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