This Content Is Only For Subscribers
Corporate Travel Management has confirmed that its proprietary Lightning online booking technology, expert travel consulting team, and mid- and back-office reporting and invoicing systems are successfully booking and servicing Qantas New Distribution Capability content in preparation for Qantas’ new distribution model which went live on July 1.
As one of Qantas’ invite-only “Premium Partners”, CTM customers enabled with Lightning will benefit from discounts up to 6.5 per cent off traditional fares and exclusive travel content. The Premium NDC offering is expected to deliver significant value to customers above standard NDC content, including full access to NDC sale fares and future NDC products and services to be announced by Qantas.
CTM is one of the only travel management companies (TMC) globally to design, develop and own its end-to-end booking technology, without third-party reliance.
This competitive capability has enabled CTM to respond swiftly to market changes and deliver market-leading solutions to its customers. As part of CTM’s ongoing investment in its proprietary technology, CTM was able to commence live customer trials with NDC content earlier this year. As it stands, CTM’s Lightning online booking tool offers the most advanced post booking functionality for Qantas NDC bookings, such as online changes and cancellations.
CTM was an early adopter of NDC when IATA first introduced the technology in 2019 and has been working closely with participating airline partners to deliver NDC content, while leveraging learnings from the past five years to drive greater value for CTM customers.
Building on these foundations, CTM believes it is best placed to service Qantas NDC content from booking through to invoice and reporting.
Speaking to CTM’s high preparation, Qantas’ executive general manager global sales and distribution Kathryn Robertson says: “We are so thrilled to be working closely with CTM as we prepare for our new distribution model on July 1. Their early success in realising customer value from Qantas NDC content to the corporate market reflects their strong focus on advancing both technology and servicing, helping to create a more modern and seamless experience for our shared customers.”
“This integration with Qantas is a clear demonstration of CTM’s ability to execute at speed and scale, delivering meaningful commercial value to our customers and strengthening our position in a rapidly evolving market,” says CTM’s chief partnership officer global air and GDS John Balloch.
“By owning our technology, we’re not just keeping pace, we’re setting the standard for what modern corporate travel should look like.
“We’re extremely proud of what we achieved ahead of 1 July, from the development of our booking technology right through to the dedicated training of our customer service team. CTM is ready for Qantas NDC – and we look forward to offering our customers this competitive advantage.”
