By: Staff Writer
January 10, Colombo (LNW): SriLankan Airlines has begun the global roll out of its New Distribution Capability (NDC) agents booking portal SriLankan Direct Connect starting with India enabling travel agents, convenient direct access to the airline’s reservation system and an array of other benefits.
The NDC platform is a breakthrough travel industry-supported program by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) that sets the pace to digitally transform the journey for airline distribution.
Adopting the technology via SriLankan Direct Connect allows SriLankan Airlines to form a powerful, direct retail and communication channel with agents and bypass traditional, intermediary Global Distribution Systems to provide richer content, ancillary services and personalised offers.
“We are excited to become one of the first airlines in South Asia to introduce IATA’s NDC technology and enhance the overall booking experience for our agents.
SriLankan Direct Connect is an intuitive application that will strengthen our direct distribution channel and bring value to travel agents and empower them to provide a superior service to our passengers,” stated Chief Executive Officer of SriLankan Airlines, Richard Nuttall.
“The launch of SriLankan Direct Connect is a milestone moment, qualifying SriLankan Airlines for the prestigious Airline Retailing Maturity Certification by IATA.
SriLankan Direct Connect will help us expand our distribution network and optimize savings and efficiency and transform the way in which we do business all at the same time,” added Head of Worldwide Sales & Distribution of SriLankan Airlines, Dimuthu Tennakoon.
Agents who register for SriLankan Direct Connect will have at their fingertips, private fares, guaranteed lowest fares, fare families and other promotional fares; ancillary products; free date changes; and an incentive scheme for flown segments among other exclusive benefits.
First launched in Sri Lanka in August 2023, SriLankan Airlines will be progressively extending SriLankan Direct Connect across its network in the coming months following the global kick off in India.
Agents can sign up for SriLankan Direct Connect using the Agent Registration link on the home page of www.srilankan.com
SriLankan Airlines is set to celebrate the reopening of Indian skies on 27 March 2022 by doubling up to 88 weekly flights to India to match pre-COVID-19 levels.
Consequently, customers too would be doubly rewarded by SriLankan expanding its flight frequencies at the same time that India does away with air travel bubble limitations this upcoming summer season.
Coupled together, it will effectively provide SriLankan Airlines’ passengers enhanced flight options and connectivity between India and destinations in the Maldives; the Far East; Oceania; Europe; and the Middle East.
