Navan, a business travel, payments, and expense management platform, has announced an upgraded New Distribution Capability (NDC) integration with Qantas, Australia’s national airline, utilizing the airline’s latest NDC 24.1 API.
This enhancement strengthens Navan’s participation in Qantas’ invite-only Premium NDC Program, aiming to provide travelers with optimal content and a streamlined booking and servicing experience. NDC is a modern data transmission standard designed to give airlines greater flexibility in distributing their offers. For Navan users, this means access to exclusive fares, premium services for frequent flyers, and promotions not typically available through older distribution systems.
This new generation of the NDC API facilitates a transition from manual operations to more seamless processes, leveraging technology investments made by Qantas and other airlines, particularly in challenging areas like disruption handling. Dane Molter, SVP of Travel Marketplace at Navan, stated, “This direct connection with Qantas cuts through the complexity of legacy distribution. The new generation of NDC APIs unlocks a superior end-to-end experience — from booking the best possible fare to managing changes with speed and efficiency. We are carving a new path for corporate travel, and this strengthened partnership with Qantas is a perfect example of our vision brought to life.”
The direct connection is built upon Navan’s proprietary content aggregation platform, developed last year to support advanced airline retailing. Navan reports significant adoption, with 70% of all Qantas flights booked through its platform now flowing via the Premium NDC program.
Ash Howell, Qantas Executive Vice President of the Americas region, commented, “We’re delighted to strengthen our TMC partnership with Navan through the Qantas Premium NDC program which offers great benefits for our mutual customers compared to traditional indirect booking systems. Our Qantas customers have asked for a more flexible, seamless and personalised booking experience and the new technology delivers with more fare options, more visibility for Qantas Frequent Flyers, and more opportunities for partners like Navan to earn with dynamic commission offers, more fare options, and the ability to create more tailored trips matching customers’ preferences.”
Through the upgraded integration, Navan provides travelers with several advantages: access to Qantas fares with better pricing than standard NDC; the elimination of additional distribution and legacy channel surcharges; enhanced perks such as free selection of standard seats on Qantas-ticketed flights for Bronze Frequent Flyers; improved post-booking services that enable Navan’s agents to manage changes, disruptions, and refunds more efficiently; and support for unused NDC credits within the Navan platform.
NDC technology has seen increasing adoption in recent years, with newer generations of the standard providing post-booking experiences that exceed the capabilities of legacy channels.
