BCD Travel agreement with AFKL lets clients book reservations on Air France and KLM without incurring distribution surcharge

UTRECHT, The Netherlands, March 30, 2018 – BCD Travel has reached an agreement with Air France and KLM that will let its clients book reservations on the airlines without incurring a distribution surcharge.

The airlines announced late last year that they would introduce a distribution surcharge beginning April. 1. The charge per one-way segment is applied to all bookings made in the global distribution systems. The surcharge won’t apply to sales via an NDC API connection, the Air France KLM Agent Portal or to Air France and KLM direct sales channels. Under the multi-year deal, BCD Travel is strongly committed to working with AF and KL, as well as technology providers, to determine how new technologies and distribution capabilities can be implemented to improve the travel experience for mutual clients and travelers. BCD is also committed to ensuring that companies retain the benefits of traditional distribution channels and will continue exploring the option of GDSs providing a viable NDC solution.

Both Travelport and Amadeus have supported this agreement, which will allow AF and KL to waive the distribution surcharge for bookings made through these GDSs from April 1. BCD is optimistic that similar support will be forthcoming from the other major GDS, Sabre.

“We are committed to ensuring that our industry moves forward and that new technologies are used to improve the customer experience for travel buyers. This agreement helps do that,” said Rose Stratford, BCD Travel executive vice president, Global Supplier Relations and Strategic Sourcing. “It ensures that airline distribution channels will continue to provide corporate travel buyers with all the benefits they currently enjoy.

“This includes the ability to shop from among multiple competing offers between like city pairs and to capture essential data needed to keep travelers safe on the road. We applaud AFKL’s willingness to work with BCD Travel to reach an agreement that mutually benefits our customers.”

“We are delighted to have reached this agreement with BCD Travel which is great news for our mutual customers,” said Soline de Montremy, senior vice president of Global Sales and Partnerships for the Air France-KLM Group. “BCD Travel has given a strong commitment to NDC, and we look forward to working in collaboration with them and their technology partners in developing plans and delivering enhanced experiences for customers.”

About BCD Travel

BCD Travel helps companies travel smart and achieve more. We drive program adoption, cost savings and talent retention through digital experiences that simplify business travel. Our 13,000 dedicated team members service clients in 170+ countries as we shape a sustainable future for business travel. For more information, visit www.bcdtravel.com.