Hawaiian Airlines Encourages Travel Agents to use NDC Channels

(03 Feb 2022)  Accelya is powering Hawaiian Airlines’ distribution strategy as the airline drives the adoption of its NDC channels with unique content and a distribution surcharge when making bookings via legacy channels.

Hawaiian has launched a new agency website, a NDC-based direct connect solution powered by Accelya’s SPRK sales and servicing platform.

In addition, technology companies accessing Hawaiian Airlines’ products through the Accelya NDC API can become ‘HA Connect Approved Partners’.

Using Accelya technology, the airline will introduce personalized and rich content, dynamically priced ancillaries, dynamic bundles of fares and ancillaries through its NDC Channel+ content.

Hawaiian Airlines A321 Maui

“We have long felt that NDC is the right solution to help us reimagine our distribution landscape and to deliver to both travelers and travel agents what they are looking for in terms of dynamic pricing, unique content, and loyalty personalization. Working with NDC and retailing leaders, Accelya has enabled us to turn our strategy into reality,” said Theo Panagiotoulias, Senior Vice President, Global Sales & Alliances - Hawaiian Airlines.

From the 1 April, Hawaiian Airlines will withdraw the sale of interisland (Neighbor Island) point-to-point fares from legacy channels.

Travel agents will be able to book flights between islands through the airline’s HA Connect agency portal, the Hawaiian Airlines Partner Portal, and HA Connect Approved Partners.

From that point on, Hawaiian will add a Distribution Cost Recovery surcharge to recoup any costs incurred by agents choosing to continue using legacy channels to book available itineraries.

“By rolling out a bold distribution strategy that incentivizes travel agents to use its NDC channels, Hawaiian Airlines is prioritizing its pursuit of distribution freedom and transformation of the retailing experience. We expect more airlines in the Americas to follow Hawaiian’s lead in 2022,” said Mark Hollander, SVP Commercial – Americas, Accelya.

See also: Future of Airline Distribution and NDC - HD Video Interview with Yanik Hoyles, IATA.