INFINI/Travelfusion to release joint NDC solution in 2018
INFINI Travel Information, Inc. (INFINI-HDQ: Akasaka, Tokyo, Japan: CEO-Kimio Uemura, Capital: JPY 4 billion, Ownership: 60% ANA Holdings Inc. / 40% Everest Investment Holdings Limited) unveiled its plans to launch new NDC products in collaboration with its UK-based innovation partner Travelfusion Limited (Travelfusion). The announcement, made during the INFINI Agent Seminar held in Tokyo on June 1st, highlighted INFINI's plans to integrate NDC-compliant contents into its existing product portfolio, thus allowing for the seamless introduction of "NDC contents" into the Japan market.
INFINI and Travelfusion Corporation began their cooperation in 2014 and have an established track record of delivering the successful "INFINI LCC Search" product to the Japan market. Travelfusion, was certified as an NDC Level 3 aggregator, the highest NDC certification level by IATA, in 2016 and is already deploying NDC-compliant content solutions for twenty-two (22) airlines mostly in the European Union. INFINI and Travelfusion aim to further build on their successful partnership to provide a seamless and intuitive solution to help travel agents navigate the challenges posed by the evolving NDC standard and the differing NDC solutions developed by airlines. 2018 will see the release of two innovative INFINI solutions aimed at simplifying travel agents' work processes:
• "INFINI HOST-LINK", which will deliver NDC content via Travelfusion, supported by the API standard, and
• " INFINI LINX PLUS", which integrates NDC-compliant airline content in the existing INFINI LINX reservation platform.
INFINI's President and CEO Kimio Uemura highlighted the benefits of the new solutions: "While the new NDC standard presents considerable operational and financial challenges, it also has the potential to yield significant benefits for both airlines and travel agents. INFINI is uniquely positioned to assist both airlines and travel agents to maximize these benefits, as our products offer the most efficient way of implementing NDC. We hope our customers will consider the INFINI solutions as an integral part of their NDC strategy going forward."