Finchglow Travels has reached about 60 per cent NDC adoption as airlines accelerate their shift from traditional Global Distribution Systems.
Managing Director of Finchglow Travels, Mr. Ezekiel Ikotun, disclosed the figure while explaining the company’s strategy for adapting to changes in airline distribution and travel retailing.
NDC, New Distribution Capability, is an IATA-developed technology that enables airlines to distribute richer flight offers and services directly through travel agencies and online travel agencies (OTAs). The technology can provide agencies with access to more detailed offers, ancillary services and airline products.
Ikotun said Finchglow is treating NDC adoption as a major part of its future business strategy. He said the company has already achieved about 60 per cent adoption internally and is using training and incentives to increase usage among its frontline employees.
“For us in terms of NDC adoption in-house, we are like 60% integration rate in the use of it.”
He said Finchglow recently introduced an incentive programme for frontline staff to encourage greater adoption of NDC. The initiative is designed to move employees beyond awareness of the technology towards actual use when selling airline products.
“Today now I just received an incentive program to our front line on the usage and adoption. Sell 50 tickets from 50 to 30, get $100 incentive.”
Ikotun said the company is using multiple approaches to drive adoption because it sees NDC as central to the future of travel distribution.
“So we’re using multiple incentive approach to drive that, because that is the future of the business.”
The development comes as airlines increasingly promote NDC as an alternative distribution channel to traditional GDS arrangements. For travel agencies, the transition requires changes in technology, staff knowledge and the way airline products are sold to customers.
Finchglow Travel links NDC adoption to AI and airline retailing
Finchglow is also linking NDC adoption with artificial intelligence and the broader development of airline retailing.
Ikotun said the company plans to use training programmes to prepare its agents for the changing distribution environment. He disclosed that Finchglow’s October training programme will focus on AI, NDC and airline retailing.
“We are going to emphasize a lot on how we are going to use AI embedded in NDC to be able to create better customer experience.”
The approach points to a broader shift in the travel business. Rather than treating NDC simply as a technical replacement for existing distribution systems, Finchglow is positioning it as a tool for improving how travel professionals access and sell airline content.
For travel agencies, this could mean greater access to airline products and services while giving agents new tools to tailor offers for customers.
However, adoption also requires investment in technology and employee training. Agencies must ensure their staff understand how the new distribution environment works and how to incorporate it into daily sales operations.
Finchglow’s 60 per cent internal adoption rate therefore provides a measure of the company’s progress, although the company still has a significant portion of its operations to migrate or integrate.
Travelden Bets on NDC to Power Digital Growth
The NDC adoption strategy is not limited to Finchglow’s offline travel operations.
Head of Business at Travelden, another Finchglow Holdings subsidiary, Temidayo Isabemueh, said NDC has also been incorporated into the company’s online travel agency platform.
He said Finchglow wants to strengthen its presence in the online travel market and improve the capabilities of its website as part of that strategy.
“And yes, and to the question that’s about NDC, NDC is also available on the website, so that you can actually get what you need first as well.”
Isabemueh said the company’s offline operations have also achieved more than 60 per cent NDC adoption.
“Offline, we are also over 60% adoption into the NDC, and the idea is that this is the future, and we’re about to get other people to do it.”
The online component could become increasingly important as travel customers move more of their flight searches and purchases to digital platforms.
Isabemueh also pointed to changes within Nigeria’s online travel market. He said Finchglow believes there is an opportunity to strengthen its position as the sector evolves.
“We know that there’s a gap that needs filling and we are stepping up to take part in filling it.”
He said the company is working to improve its website and its ability to serve customers digitally.
NDC shift creates new demands for travel agencies
The growing NDC adoption is changing the relationship between airlines, travel agencies and customers.
Traditional GDS platforms have historically played a central role in distributing airline schedules, fares and availability to travel sellers. NDC adoption provides airlines with another distribution architecture that can support richer content and more detailed retailing.
Ikotun said the company’s approach is based on preparing its people for what he considers the next phase of travel distribution.
The company’s October programme, titled “Winning with AI, NDC and Airline Retailing,” is expected to reinforce that strategy.
The focus on AI also reflects the growing intersection between technology and travel retailing. Finchglow intends to explore how AI can work alongside NDC to create more personalised customer experiences.
For Finchglow Travels, the objective is therefore broader than simply connecting to NDC systems. The company is seeking to integrate the technology into its agents’ daily operations while extending its benefits to its online platform.
As airlines continue developing their NDC strategies, travel agencies will increasingly have to adapt to new distribution models.
With more than 60 per cent NDC adoption reported across its offline operations and its availability through its online platform, Finchglow is positioning itself for a travel distribution environment increasingly shaped by NDC, AI and airline retailing.
