In an industry where patience wears thin faster than a red-eye to Perth, momentum is finally shifting behind IATA’s long-promised New Distribution Capability, and this time, corporate travel heavyweights are linking arms rather than sharpening pitchforks.
NDC FastTrack, the cross-industry initiative backed by Accelya, has quietly transformed from a polite conversation over conference coffee into a serious collective push to fix the technical bottlenecks that have dogged NDC for years. What began in Denver at the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) conference with the early support of Sabre and American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT) has now swelled into a broader coalition of travel management companies (TMCs), global distribution systems (GDSs), and technology players determined to get NDC working the way it was always advertised.
New participants BCD Travel, FCM Travel, Corporate Travel Management (CTM), Fox World Travel, Amadeus, and Travelport have stepped into the ring, signalling an industry tired of theoretical promises and ready for practical delivery.
The goal, as Accelya and its partners put it, is straightforward: make NDC less of a technical migraine and more of a genuine asset for corporate programs, delivering richer, more transparent, and more relevant content to travellers at scale.
“We’re pleased to see continued engagement in NDC FastTrack,” said Tye Radcliffe, Chief Customer Success Officer at Accelya. “The combined experience of these participants is helping the industry remove technical barriers and advance NDC adoption in ways that deliver tangible benefits for travel sellers, technology partners, and corporate buyers.”
Radcliffe’s optimism is echoed across the industry, particularly among TMCs long accustomed to juggling airline content like a circus act — one hand tied behind their back by outdated systems, the other trying to protect a corporate client demanding immediate clarity on fares, ancillaries, and serviceability.
“As corporate travel continues to evolve, it’s clear that shared learning and open dialogue are key to progress,” said John Morhous, Global Chief Experience Officer at FCM Travel. “NDC FastTrack provides that opportunity – a way to engage directly with technology partners and NDC providers to move adoption forward in a coordinated, practical way.”
Morhous’ sentiment feels particularly timely. In the past, NDC discussions often resembled a family Christmas lunch — strong opinions, no shortage of tension, and an occasional fork thrown across the table. But with NDC FastTrack, there’s a more grounded recognition that collaboration is the only path to smoothing the bumps.
BCD Travel’s Senior Vice President of Supplier Management and Delivery, Thane Jackson, agrees:
“Participating in NDC FastTrack reinforces our goal to make NDC a reliable, scalable part of modern corporate travel. Corporate clients want airline content that’s consistent, transparent, and easy to service. By contributing our experience, we’re helping ensure NDC delivers on that promise wherever and however travellers book.”
The shift isn’t just about plugging in richer airline content; it’s about fixing the serviceability gaps that have long plagued early NDC deployments, exchanges, cancellations, reporting, queueing, and mid-office processing. The gritty operational details that underpin corporate travel.
Amadeus, too, has made a significant move, given its central role in global distribution.
“NDC FastTrack shows what’s possible when the industry comes together to solve real challenges,” said Ludo Verheggen, NDC [X] Program Director at Amadeus. “At Amadeus, we believe collaboration is key to unlocking the full potential of NDC, supporting both industry growth and an improved traveller experience. We’re pleased to contribute and help shape a future where richer, more relevant content flows seamlessly – making NDC work for everyone.”
CTM’s Chief Partnership Officer, Erik Shor, went further, calling the initiative “refreshing and long overdue,” reflecting the pent-up demand for practical solutions instead of more panel discussions and white papers.
Fox World Travel’s CIO, Sam Hilgendorf, struck perhaps the most grounded note:
“For all of us at Fox World Travel, the goal of NDC has always been about one thing: delivering better experiences for our travellers and the companies we serve. NDC FastTrack gives us a forum to truly tackle the real-world challenges that slow down practical adoption. When TMCs, technology partners, and airlines collaborate openly, we can create solutions that are reliable, consistent, and actually workable for corporate travel. We’re excited to contribute and help accelerate that progress.”
With travel’s recovery now well underway and corporations demanding greater transparency over air spend, the timing for collective action could hardly be better.
For participation details and program materials, visit the official Accelya NDC FastTrack page:
https://www.accelya.com.
By Christine Nguyen – (c) 2025
