Distribution Management

Distribution Options for Scheduled Air Carriers

What type of distribution is best for my airline

Takeflite offers multiple options depending on your specific goals, key considerations include: 

• Type: Direct vs. letting others display/sell your schedules and fares 
• Audience targets: Leisure vs. business vs. government travelers
• Inventory availability: Worldwide travel agents/corporate booking agencies vs. key online large travel sellers vs. just your website
• Reach: Attract global travelers not familiar with your brand vs. locals who already know you
• Competition: Non-stop competition vs. exclusive routes you may have to yourself
• Staff Capability: Hourly staff vs. experienced airline revenue managers

Takeflite supports four types of distribution for your schedules and fares:

1. Airline Website Direct: internet booking engine (IBE) via your website
2. Distribution Plus (D+): Application Programming Interface (API) connections to many of the largest sellers of travel, including Expedia, Kayak, SkyScanner, and others 
3. Global Distribution System (GDS) “Lite”: “virtual” codeshare via Hahn Air or FlexFlight, to access traditional travel agency sales channels 
4. Traditional GDS: distribution via legacy providers Amadeus and Sabre

1. Airline Website Direct Distribution 

• Summary: Internet booking engine (IBE) via your website that supports calendar shopping, multiple fare types, fare families, bundling, and multi-trip ticket packs; a low-cost way to sell with no commissions. Special travel agency-direct log-in. See Takeflite’s online booking system page for more about Direct Distribution 
• Reach: Airline website audience + travel agency-direct website log-in  
• Connection Type: Multiple embedding options on your website  
• Requirements: any hosted user of Takeflite Ops platform 
• 3rd Party Fees: None
• Staff Training/Complexity: Low 
• Cost per Ticket: $.

2. Takeflite Distribution Plus (D+) (optional service)  

• Summary: Uses modern, low-cost API technology to connect to select large online travel agencies (OTAs) and meta-search engines, such as Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz, Kayak, SkyScanner, and more.
• Reach: 10+ of largest online travel agency and meta-search providers
• Connection Type: Application Programming Interface (API)
• Requirements: IATA two-character airline code preferred
• 3rd Party Fees: None. Eliminates costly traditional fees for GDS segments, schedule filing (OAG, Innovata, etc.), pricing (ATPCO), messaging (Type B/Teletype & Type A EDIFACT), and settlement (ARC, BSP, etc.)
• Staff Training/Complexity: Low
• Cost per Ticket: $$.

3. Takeflite Global Distribution System (GDS) “Lite” (optional service) 

• Summary: “Virtual” codeshare via Hahn Air or FlexFlight, to access traditional travel agency sales channels and enables airlines to sell via GDS channels with far less complexity than traditional GDS. Flights are “marketed by” Hahn (H1) or Flex (W2) and displayed as “operated by” participating airlines in the various GDS systems. Virtual codeshare partner handles processing of schedules (OAG, Innovata, etc.), pricing (ATPCO), messaging (Type B/Teletype & Type A EDIFACT), and settlement (ARC, BSP, etc.)
• Reach: 100K+ travel agencies
• Connection Type: Email or API
• Requirements: IATA two-character airline code
• 3rd Party Fees: Paid on a per ticket basis to Hahn or FlexFlight
• Staff Training/Complexity: Medium
• Cost per Ticket: $$$.

4. Takeflite Traditional Global Distribution System (GDS) (optional service) 

• Summary: Classic, large-scale connectivity to travel agencies worldwide and ability to sell in 100+ currencies via Amadeus (1A) and Sabre (1S) networks.
• Reach: 100K+ travel agencies
• Connection Type: Type B/Teletype & Type A/EDIFACT messaging to publish and display inventory, schedules, and fares
• Requirements: IATA two-character airline code, three-digit accounting code, airline negotiated GDS agreements, ARINC Type B/Teletype messaging agreement, ATPCO fare filing agreement, and settlement agreements with ARC and/or BSP in preferred countries
• 3rd Party Fees: GDS fees, pricing (ATPCO), messaging (Type B/Teletype & Type A EDIFACT), and settlement (ARC, BSP, etc.) fees
• Staff Training/Complexity: High
• Cost per Ticket: $$$$.

NDC (New Distribution Capability) 

NDC bypasses expensive private GDS networks, using direct Type X (XML) connections between partners 

• NDC schemas were designed to better support ancillary fees (E.g., prepaid baggage, prepaid seating fees) “unbundled” from all-inclusive fares
• The largest global airlines are leading the move from GDS distribution to NDC distribution because it allows them to bypass high GDS booking, ticketing, and messaging fees
• Until NDC costs come down, Takeflite’s approach is D+ (mentioned above)
• If your carrier also offers tours, charters, air taxi services, and/or handles freight / cargo, we have a decade or two of knowledge in the distribution of those areas too. Keep reading or request a demo.