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Technology solution enables Finnish flag carrier to directly distribute NDC content to travel agencies

UAE, DUBAI – 14 July 2022: Finnair, the flag carrier of Finland, has selected TPConnects, a leading SaaS-based travel technology solutions provider, to power the Finnair Agency Sales Tool (FAST).

This agency booking portal enables Finnair to directly distribute NDC content to travel agents, including ancillaries and personalised exclusive offers. Travel agencies using FAST are also exempt from the 12 EUR one-way surcharge the airline has now implemented via traditional EDIFACT channels.

Finnair is the first carrier to announce it will stop using legacy EDIFACT technology to sell tickets and ancillary air products by the end of 2025, moving instead to an all-NDC distribution model for agency channel sales.

Jenni Suomela, Finnair Vice President Channel Management, said: “We continue to introduce new channels to distribute NDC content and address the varied needs of our seller partners. The roll out of FAST is an important milestone in Finnair’s distribution strategy, enabling us to introduce new and better products to customers, distributed by modern technology that is easily accessible by agents. By strengthening our co-operation with our technology partner TPConnects, we have been able to take an agile approach, delivering speed to market with this NDC agent portal.”

Rakshit Desai, CEO, TPConnects adds: “In support of Finnair’s progressive distribution strategy we have created a user-friendly platform to generate and service NDC bookings, without any technical integration work, booking or servicing fees. It provides a robust agency administration system, enabling Finnair to set up their agencies independently, and permits roles and unique access privileges to Finnair product.”

He continues: “Finnair joins the expanding group of NDC airlines adopting TPConnects’ visionary technology solutions, which open limitless retail opportunities through direct connectivity to travel agencies, free from the constraints of outdated systems. Our goal is to create a richer experience for travel vendors and the new platform we have developed for Finnair enables agents to fully leverage the complete spectrum of the airline’s products and services.”

About Finnair

Finnair is a network airline specialising in connecting passenger and cargo traffic between Asia, North America, and Europe. Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do – Finnair intends to reduce its net emissions by 50% by the end of 2025 from the 2019 baseline and achieve carbon neutrality latest by the end of 2045. Finnair is a member of the Oneworld alliance. Finnair Plc’s shares are quoted on the Nasdaq Helsinki stock exchange.

About TPConnects

TPConnects is a leading provider of SaaS-based travel technology solutions, helping airlines and travel agencies to retail travel. Its cloud-based software helps organisations to distribute travel products while effectively managing customers. TPConnects is granted Airline Retailing Maturity status under International Air Transport Association (IATA) Airline Retailing Maturity (ARM) index program. TPConnects has also received IATA ONE Order Certification and IATA Financial Gateway (IFG) Certification.

TPConnects’ IATA NDC and One Order Certified Offer and Order Management System is being used by major airlines including Oman Air, Gulf Air, Air Cairo, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Air Mauritius, Eastern Airlines, SriLankan Airlines etc.