Turkish Airlines recently expanded its transatlantic network and reported a 7.7 percent increase in passenger capacity for the year’s second quarter. Turkish Airlines carried a total of 22.1 million passengers during the period – marking a 38 percent increase on 2019 levels – and recorded a profit of US$591 million. Turkish Airlines NDC aggregator 

Last month, Sabre removed all Turkish Airlines content from the GDS. In a message to users, Sabre said that it had dropped Turkish Airlines effective Sept. 1, 2024, after the two were not able to agree on a new distribution agreement.

“Sabre has gone to great lengths in our discussions with Turkish Airlines to reach a new agreement whereby the airline’s content would be available in the Sabre marketplace. We are disappointed that Turkish Airlines is not equally committed to achieving an agreement, and we regret the challenges that this will create for travelers and travel agencies,” the message reads.

After Sept. 1, any bookings on Turkish Airlines will not be serviceable on Sabre—existing reservations that will require tickets to be issued or reissued will need to be done directly with the airline, as will any modifications or cancellations.

Turkish Airlines Expands NDC Reach Through New Partnerships

Turkish Airlines has agreed on a series of new deals with flight aggregators, including Travelfusion, in an effort to broaden the reach of its NDC content.

The announcement comes just days after the carrier pulled its content from the global distribution system Sabre as the two sides failed to agree on a replacement for their previous deal that expired on 31 August.

The carrier on Wednesday confirmed new ‘strategic’ partnerships with aggregators Travelfusion, Verteil, DRCT, Mystifly, Nuua, Nuflights and Theta, which will connect to the airline’s soon-to-be-launched New Distribution Capability platform for agents, TKConnect.

Separately, in a post on LinkedIn, AirGateway announced it too would be among the launch partners.

Commenting on its partnerships, Turkish Airlines’ chief commercial officer, Ahmet Olmuştur, said:

“These aggregators have a proven track record of delivering top-tier distribution solutions, and their expertise will be instrumental in maximising the reach and impact of TKConnect. This initiative reflects our shared vision of providing superior travel solutions and exceptional service to our customers. By embracing NDC technology, we are paving the way for a more connected and efficient travel ecosystem.”

Following the expiration of its Sabre deal, codeshare flights operated by Turkish Airlines have also been removed from Sabre-connected channels.

However, the carrier last month extended its long-term distribution agreement with Travelport and also has an existing deal with Amadeus as well as a long-term IT agreement, signed in 2020, which includes new retailing capabilities.

The deal with Travelport is a long-term agreement that will get Turkish Airlines’ content on Travelport+, including access to its group offers for users.

“Our expansion of services with Turkish Airlines confirms the value that our modern retailing solutions provide Travelport’s airline partners so that they can seamlessly manage products and tailor unique offers for agencies,” said Chris Ramm, Vice President of Air Partners – EMEA, India and Global Sales Strategy at Travelport. Our ability to provide the solutions that our air partners need to elevate their modern distribution capabilities cements Travelport’s role within the industry as a leader in modern travel retailing.”

The airline’s TKConnect platform is due to go live on 1 October, at which time it also will begin charging a distribution fee for bookings made via global distribution systems.

The platform will allow travel agents to create customized itineraries, access exclusive deals and “enjoy a streamlined booking process”, the carrier said. Turkish Airlines NDC aggregator 

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