FCTG Partners With Qantas As New Distribution Model Takes Off

The Flight Centre Travel Group (FLT) has extended its longstanding relationship with Qantas by agreeing to become part of the airline’s new Qantas Channel.

By signing up to the channel, which will come into effect in August this year, FLT has ensured that its leisure and corporate travel customers and consultants globally will have access to a full range of Qantas fares, information and new content.

This will include fares sourced from the Qantas Distribution Platform (QDP), which the airline launched last year as part of its plan to capitalise on the benefits flowing from IATA’s New Distribution Capability (NDC) initiative.

Qantas has since partnered with the major Global Distribution Systems (GDSs), Sabre, Amadeus and Travelport, to make the Qantas Channel available to agents globally.

“We are pleased to be involved in this program and believe it will deliver a new level of modernised air content to our customers,” Greg Parker, the executive general manager of FLT’s global air business, said.

“We welcome the GDSs’ inclusion in this program and believe that this collaborative approach will deliver the best outcomes for travellers, while also allowing us to work with key GDS partners to deploy broader next generation retail solutions.

“This will also cement our long-standing relationship with Qantas and allow us to work together to develop innovative new customer products for our joint customers during the years ahead.”

Qantas chief customer officer Vanessa Hudson said the airline was pleased to be working with FLT to launch the Qantas Channel.

“The digital environment has changed the way we need to work with our trade partners, and our new technology paired with this new Qantas Channel agreement will support us on the journey to delivering on our vision for our mutual customers,” she said.

“We’re excited to continue to innovate with our trade partners and share in the benefits of this new technology.”

FLT aims to be at the forefront of developments relating to NDC and other new initiatives within the travel sector.

The company has recently formed a Global Airline Distribution, comprising Dallas-based Jason Toothman, London-based Nicola Ping and Brisbane-based Jason Nooning, to drive adoption of airline driven distribution initiatives. The team has already secured key launch partnerships with Sabre’s Beyond NDC and Amadeus NDC-X programs.

“By participating in these programs, we ensure that our consultants and our customers will be the first to access this content in the most seamless, efficient way,” Mr Parker said.