“Qantas Channel” to be implemented effective 01 August 2019.
Qantas has just announced a major revamp of its distribution model for the travel industry, with the debut of the Qantas Channel which it said would “ensure access to the widest range of Qantas fares, products and information for agents”.
Travel agents who sign up to participate will be able to offer customers a wider range of fares and new content sourced from the NDC-enabled Qantas Distribution Platform (QDP), which is not currently available via traditional indirect booking systems, said QF Chief Customer Officer, Vanessa Hudson.
Agencies that do not register for the Qantas Channel may incur a channel fee, in addition to no longer being able to access the widest range of traditional fares made available via indirect channels or new content via the QDP.
Hudson said Qantas had partnered with Sabre, Amadeus and Travelport to make the Qantas Channel available to agents globally, and was also working with other regional GDS partners to deliver the new distribution option.
The majority of QF’s key agency partners have already agreed to participate globally in the Qantas Channel, including Flight Centre, Helloworld, Express Travel Group, Consolidated Travel, Corporate Travel Management, Carlson Wagonlit, ATPI Voyager, CT Connections, Expedia Group, Webjet and Virtuoso. “Qantas is working closely with other agents to register them over the coming months,” Hudson said.
“The digital environment has changed the way we need to work with our trade partners, and our new technology paired with this new agreement will support us on the journey to delivering our vision for our mutual customers,” she added.
More details in today’s issue of Travel Daily.