New Garner Report Highlights NDC Savings of up to 16% and Enhanced Traveler Experience, but Adoption Barriers Remain

Miami – March 04, 2025

A new industry report reveals that while NDC adoption in corporate travel is delivering measurable benefits—including savings of up to 16% per ticket and a more seamless traveler experience—widespread implementation remains slow, hindered by fragmented TMC technology and misaligned commercial incentives across the supply chain– airlines, TMCs, and corporations. Unlocking NDC: Early Results in Corporate Travel, published by Garner in collaboration with Accelya, provides fresh insights from leading TMCs, technology providers, and corporate buyers, offering a view of NDC’s progress, its tangible successes, and the challenges that must still be overcome.

Tangible Benefits Emerging

For early adopters, NDC is already unlocking measurable benefits. Companies leveraging NDC have reported savings of 3.3% to 16.6% per ticket, translating into six-figure annual savings for large travel programs. Enhanced recognition of frequent flyer status and corporate policies is streamlining bookings, reducing the need for manual adjustments. Servicing efficiencies are also evident, with fewer booking errors, shorter call center wait times, and improved self-service capabilities—some platforms now automate 99.5% of itinerary changes during major disruptions. As adoption expands, corporate travelers are gaining access to a more seamless, consumer-grade booking experience.

Challenges Still to Overcome

Despite these gains, significant barriers remain. Many TMCs still rely on legacy technology stacks, making NDC integration inconsistent across platforms. Additionally, legacy financial models tied to traditional booking methods create disincentives for some TMCs to transition fully. Adoption among corporate buyers is also uneven—while some have seen success, broader industry commitment is needed to drive meaningful change. Overcoming these challenges will require continued collaboration, technological advancements, and evolving commercial models.

The Future of NDC in Corporate Travel

“Change is never easy, but those who embrace NDC now will be best positioned to reap its rewards,” said Tye Radcliffe, Chief Customer Success Officer at Accelya. “NDC is reshaping corporate travel by offering more choice, better servicing, and an improved traveler experience, while also strengthening loyalty and profitability for travel sellers. For corporate buyers, it provides greater control, cost efficiencies, and better alignment with traveler needs. Accelya’s corporate NDC bookings grew 146% year-over-year in 2024, signaling a shift toward a more modern and customer-centric approach to corporate travel.”

Rather than a single tipping point, the report suggests NDC adoption will progress incrementally, fueled by advancements in technology, evolving airline content strategies, and growing corporate demand for more flexibility and cost savings. As these factors align, companies that invest in NDC now will be well-positioned to leverage a more efficient, traveler-centric corporate travel ecosystem.

The full whitepaper, Unlocking NDC: Early Results in Corporate Travel, is available for download here!.

About Accelya

Accelya is a global leader in airline software, powering over 200 airlines with an open, modular platform that enables them to drive growth, enhance customer experiences, and take control of their retailing. Our FLX ONE platform empowers airlines to transform across Offer, Order, Settlement, and Delivery (OOSD), in line with IATA’s standards for modern retailing.  

With a cloud-native infrastructure powered by AWS, Accelya processes more than 30 billion unique offers daily, settles over $100 billion annually, and delivers more than 50% of global NDC volumes. Our solutions span the entire retail lifecycle, both above and below the wing, giving airlines the flexibility, performance, scalability, and reliability they need.  

Backed by 40 years of industry expertise, long-term support from Vista Equity Partners, and 2,500 employees across 10 global offices, Accelya has the scale and proven track record to meet the evolving needs of the airline industry. 

For more information, visit the Accelya Website.

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