NDC – IN BRIEF

Technical terms and abbreviations can’t always be avoided. That’s why you’ll find definitions and explanations of many of the important terms relating to the IATA data standard, NDC, in our Glossary.

NDC – IN BRIEF

An aggregator is a technology provider that aggregates and supplies content from airlines, car rental companies, hotels, etc.

API stands for Application Programming Interface. It describes a set of routines, protocols and tools that can be used to create software applications through which two software programmes can communicate with each other.

With the Lufthansa Group airlines’ Direct NDC API, a distribution partner is connected individually and without intermediary or aggregator to the Lufthansa Group airlines’ offer and order management system.

New Distribution Capability, abbreviated to NDC, is a programme launched by IATA and supported by the travel industry to develop an XML-based data transmission standard.

An NDC aggregator is a technology provider that gathers NDC content and uses the airlines’ NDC API as a source.

The NDC API is the general term for a direct connection to an airline’s offer and order management system using the IATA NDC standard.

The Lufthansa Group airlines’ NDC Partner Program consists of four components: ‘NDC Smart Offer’, ‘NDC Bonus’, ‘Support’ and ‘Technology’. The programme is a commitment of cooperation from the Lufthansa Group airlines to their distribution partners.

SPRK is the free, web-based user interface of the Lufthansa Group airlines’ NDC API. The user-friendly portal makes it easy for distribution partners to participate in the benefits that NDC offers.