United Airlines and Travelport Forge Strategic Alliance for Modern Airline Retailing

United Airlines and Travelport are embarking on a long-term strategic relationship that promises to reshape how airline content is distributed and sold. This partnership will see both companies work closely together, leveraging each other's strengths to introduce new capabilities and functionalities that directly benefit travel agencies and corporations.

Andrew Nocella, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of United Airlines, emphasized the importance of this new model, stating, "Our new model for cooperation with Travelport helps ensure that United's travel agencies and corporate buyers benefit from the most innovative retail travel solutions available." He believes that together, they are setting a new standard for transparency, flexibility, and value in air travel distribution.

Greg Webb, Chief Executive Officer of Travelport, echoed this sentiment, calling the partnership a major milestone in accelerating airline retailing. "By combining United's advanced NDC capabilities with Travelport's next-generation platform, we're delivering richer content, better service solutions, and more choice for all our customers worldwide," he stated.

One of the standout features of this collaboration is that Travelport will gain early access to United's New Distribution Capability (NDC) technology roadmap. This will allow for co-development opportunities that ensure travel counselors benefit from advanced merchandising tools that are at the forefront of the marketplace.

The relationship promises a deeper level of technical collaboration than is typically seen in traditional airline-distributor arrangements. Dedicated development resources will focus on creating new capabilities specifically for Travelport+, a modern retailing platform tailored for travel agencies. This platform is designed to provide an all-in-one solution featuring faster searches, enhanced content, and built-in automation.

Through this partnership, the deployment of new features and functionalities will be expedited, benefitting travel agencies and corporate buyers alike. United Airlines prioritizes development efforts with partners that can rapidly bring innovations to market, positioning Travelport as a key strategic ally.

United Airlines will also integrate its portfolio of Online Booking Tool (OBT) extras into Travelport's Deem OBT platform. Customers can expect several new user-friendly features, including the ability to pool unused United travel credits, enroll in the United MileagePlus® loyalty program directly, and utilize United Jetstream amenity funds for ancillary purchases. These enhancements will also be accessible through Travelport+, enriching the functionality available to travel counselors.

The collaboration is set to be implemented in phases, with initial capabilities expected to launch in early 2026. Additional features will be rolled out throughout the year, ensuring a smooth transition for travel agencies. United Airlines plans to deploy specialized support teams to assist during this transition, enhancing NDC capabilities to facilitate the adoption of new technologies and maximize the relationship's value.

This multi-year agreement underscores both organizations' commitment to modernizing airline retailing while recognizing the crucial role that travel agencies and travel management companies play in the industry. It marks a significant step forward in delivering innovative solutions that enhance the travel experience for all stakeholders involved.

As United Airlines continues to lead the way in airline retailing, this partnership with Travelport is poised to set new benchmarks in transparency, flexibility, and customer satisfaction.

For more information about United Airlines, visit www.united.com. For details about Travelport, please refer to their corporate website.