British Airways is First to Leverage Ticketing Authority API for Direct Connection
ARLINGTON, Va. – Feb. 6, 2020 – Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC) announced today the availability of the ARC Ticketing Authority APITM, an optional service that enables airlines to instantly confirm U.S.-based travel agencies’ ARC accreditation status and ticketing authority.
British Airways is the first airline to use this new service, leveraging it as part of its New Distribution Capability (NDC) strategy in partnership with Hopper, one of its direct-connect partners. British Airways expects to continue leveraging the API as it expands its NDC connections with other U.S.-based agencies. Another early adopter, Qantas, is Ticketing Authority API-ready and is preparing to launch NDC capabilities in the U.S. market.
“With the Ticketing Authority API, ARC will help us build successful NDC connections with our U.S.-based agency partners,” said Rogier van Enk, head of distribution at British Airways. “As we expand our retailing capabilities in the U.S., this API gives us confidence that we will present NDC offers only to those agencies that are in good standing with ARC and with whom British Airways has a ticketing relationship. As we continue to scale our NDC capabilities, this API will help us continually ensure the integrity of our transactions.”
ARC developed the Ticketing Authority API to enable airlines to instantly query ARC’s Carrier Ticketing Authority Center (CTAC) product to confirm the agency’s accreditation status and individual airline’s ticketing authority. These responses will aid airlines in helping to determine whether or not to proceed with an NDC transaction.
“Hopper is pleased to support British Airways in integrating the ARC Ticketing Authority API within our NDC connection,” said Dakota Smith, chief strategy officer at Hopper. “This API enhances our security and business integrity with a key airline partner. As we pursue more NDC content with our airline partners, airlines’ access to easy-to-implement tools like the Ticketing Authority API will help us accelerate our NDC implementations.”
ARC API Product Manager Sarah Sager commented, “As ARC’s customers pursue omnichannel retailing strategies in the U.S. market, including NDC, we want to equip them for success. By developing versatile solutions like the Ticketing Authority API, we can ensure airlines and travel agencies continue to benefit from ARC’s valuable services, no matter what platform they’re using.”
More information is available about Ticketing Authority API and other air travel retailing solutions on arccorp.com.
About ARC:
As a leader in air travel intelligence and omnichannel retailing, ARC provides platforms, tools and insights that help the global travel community connect, grow and thrive. ARC enables the diverse retailing strategies of its customers by providing innovative technology, flexible settlement solutions and access to the world’s most comprehensive air transaction dataset. In 2019, ARC managed more than $97.4 billion in transactions between airlines and travel agencies, representing more than 302 million passenger trips. For more information, please visit arccorp.com.
About British Airways:
British Airways is the UK’s largest international airline offering more than 45 million customers a year quality, choice and convenience. Its principal place of business is London, with a significant presence at Heathrow, Gatwick and London City airports. British Airways’ main home at Heathrow is Terminal 5, regularly voted the world’s best airport terminal in international passenger surveys. Operating one of the most extensive international scheduled airline route networks together with its joint business agreement, codeshare and franchise partners, British Airways flies to more than 200 destinations in almost 80 countries on a fleet of around 300 aircraft. The airline is investing £6.5bn over the next five years in new aircraft, new cabins, new lounges, new food and new technology – including industry-leading WiFi. British Airways is a founding member of the airline alliance oneworld, which serves some 1,000 destinations across the globe.