Beneath the Fare: How NDC Is Transforming Corporate Travel

Airlines are accelerating their shift to IATA’s New Distribution Capability (NDC), pushing business travel into a new era of booking, pricing, and personalization. According to a recent Garner report, companies leveraging NDC have savings of up to 16% per ticket, translating into substantial annual savings for large travel programs (source). Despite these advantages, widespread adoption remains slow, hindered by fragmented technology and misaligned commercial incentives across the supply chain.

To delve deeper into the implications of NDC for corporate travel, we spoke with Mr. Sudheer Reddy, Founder, TripGain. In this executive Q&A, he shares insights on the challenges, advantages, and future of NDC through the lens of corporate travel technology.

NDC has become a central topic in the airline distribution ecosystem. How would you define its relevance to corporate travel today?

NDC represents a significant shift in how airline content is distributed, moving from legacy GDS structures to a more modern, XML-based data exchange. For corporate travel, this means greater transparency, real-time access to dynamic fares, and personalized offers. However, without the right technology infrastructure, these benefits often remain out of reach. At TripGain, we see NDC as an opportunity to reimagine how travel programs deliver both efficiency and traveler satisfaction.

What are the current challenges enterprises face in adopting NDC-based content?

The biggest hurdles lie in fragmentation and standardization. Not all airlines are at the same maturity level when it comes to NDC implementation. This creates inconsistencies in how data is served, which complicates integration, especially in managed travel environments. Moreover, legacy booking tools often struggle to accommodate NDC content alongside traditional sources. That’s why platforms like TripGain, which normalize and consolidate content from NDC, GDS, and direct channels, are critical for corporate adoption.

Many travel managers are concerned about losing visibility and control with NDC fares. How does TripGain address this?

That concern is valid, especially when NDC bypasses traditional intermediaries. At TripGain, we have built a unified interface that ingests NDC content and applies corporate travel policies, approval workflows, and analytics seamlessly - just like we would for GDS content. This ensures complete visibility, audit trails, and centralized reporting, without sacrificing access to richer, often more competitive, NDC fare content.

How does TripGain partner with airlines to enhance the NDC experience for corporate clients?

We have direct NDC partnerships with several global and regional carriers. These integrations allow us to access enhanced fare families, seat selections, and ancillary services in real time. More importantly, we convert this complex data into a consistent user experience within our platform - so procurement teams and travelers don’t need to worry about the backend. We are not just aggregating content, we are curating it in a way that aligns with the needs of modern travel programs.

Looking ahead, how do you see the NDC landscape evolving, and what role will TripGain play in shaping that future?

NDC adoption will accelerate as airlines push for more control and personalization in their distribution. I believe the future lies in blending NDC with advanced AI and automation - offering intelligent, policy-compliant recommendations in real time. TripGain is already moving in that direction. We are investing in adaptive technologies that not only aggregate content but also learn traveler behavior, optimize cost, and elevate the booking experience. In short, our goal is to make NDC not just accessible, but actionable for every corporate travel management.

As NDC adoption grows, how does TripGain approach content sourcing from both GDSs and direct airline connections?

At TripGain, our content strategy is designed to offer comprehensive, channel-agnostic access to air inventory by integrating both GDS-enabled NDC content and direct airline NDC connections. We continue to collaborate closely with global distribution systems as they expand their NDC capabilities, ensuring reliable access to a wide range of fare types and servicing standards. At the same time, we integrate directly with select airlines to complement GDS content with enhanced offers, rich media, and tailored fare options available through their NDC channels. This blended approach allows us to deliver greater content depth, flexibility, and choice to corporate travel programs - all within a single, policy-compliant platform.

Final Thoughts

As this conversation highlights, NDC is not simply a technical upgrade - it’s a strategic shift that empowers travel programs with richer content, greater transparency, and increased control. However, realizing these benefits requires more than access to NDC content, it demands intelligent aggregation, policy alignment, and seamless user experience. At TripGain, we remain committed to bridging the gap between innovation and implementation - helping enterprises simplify complexity and drive smarter travel decisions. The NDC future is here, and the key to leveraging it lies in how you integrate it.

Book a demo to learn more.