Airline pricing has changed significantly in recent years. As traveler needs continue to grow and become more specific, the industry is moving away from old fare ladders toward real-time, personalized pricing. Leading this shift is IATA’s New Distribution Capability (NDC), a modern standard that allows airlines to offer smarter pricing and helps travel sellers provide better options. With NDC airfare airlines and travel agents can offer more dynamic pricing and tailored options to meet each traveler’s needs.
EDIFACT is the old backbone of airline distribution, but it limits airlines to static fare classes and basic data. It wasn’t built for rich content or real‑time pricing.
With EDIFACT, fares are loaded in static fare ladders, rigid buckets with pre‑filed price points. Prices jump abruptly from one bucket to another.
NDC changes this with continuous pricing, enabling airlines to offer smooth, flexible price points in real time based on demand and traveler profile.
For agencies, this means better deals and improved conversion rates.
Feature | EDIFACT (Static Fare Ladders) | NDC (Continuous Pricing) |
Pricing Structure | Fixed steps between fare buckets | Continuous, calculated in real time |
Customer Impact | Sudden jumps in fare levels | Smoother price points, better deals |
Airline Flexibility | Limited, pre‑filed fares | Infinite price points, tailored offers |
Content | Basic, no rich media | Rich ancillaries and branded fares |
Airlines are already moving NDC‑only fares and bundles. Early‑adopter agencies can access:
Audit your current systems.
Partner with an NDC aggregator like Nuflights that integrates with back‑office tools (like TRAACS) and offers one dashboard for 13+ airlines.
NDC is shaping the future of airline distribution, with continuous pricing at its core. Don’t wait until competitors have already mastered it.
Learn more about NDC adoption through Skybook Global and Nuflights.