TravTalk India Online Magazine
From expanding NDC integrations to introducing AI-powered automation tools, ITQ and Travelport are empowering 6,500+ travel agents across India with smarter, faster and more connected solutions—bridging the gap between traditional systems and the future of global travel. ITQ’s leadership remains committed to blending innovation with reliability.
Surbhi Sharma
In the dynamic world of travel and trade, innovation is key—and InterGlobe Technology Quotient (ITQ), in partnership with Travelport, is leading the charge. Their focus is on empowering travel agents across India through cutting-edge technology, with a strong push towards New Distribution Capability (NDC) integration.
Anoop Tewari, Chief Commercial Officer, ITQ, said, “With an aim to strengthen the bridge between technology and travel trade, Travelport has made significant strides with NDC, now integrated with over 20 airlines globally, including eight to nine major carriers relevant to the Indian market—Finnair being the latest addition.” He stressed that the goal is to provide seamless multi-source content access to the 6,500 travel agents using Travelport across India.
Beyond EDIFACT
While EDIFACT – based systems have served the industry for decades, the future lies in multi-channel content delivery.
“Travelport’s ACH Connect, which we exclusively manage, now provides access to IndiGo’s content both within India and globally. By embedding the latest airline developments directly into our platform, we ensure that every Travelport-connected agent has access to the most comprehensive content suite available,” highlighted Tewari.
Tackling challenges
While NDC has been evolving since its initial attempts in 2012, the journey is ongoing, he said, while adding that despite its potential, challenges remain around flight disruptions, interlining and post-booking processes.
“However, we are addressing these through robust post-booking automation solutions. These tools simplify complex processes like ticket reissuance and refunds—an area of concern for agents working with NDC,” he further added.
Automation & AI
One of the exciting developments is the integration of AI and Large Language Models into Travelport’s systems.
“These technologies are being used to create smart tools that automate fare rule analysis and refunds in real time. Already in beta testing, these innovations promise to streamline operations for B2B travel agents and B2C operators, allowing them to better serve customers while reducing manual intervention,” said Tiwari.
