New Distribution Capability (NDC)

NDC is an IATA initiative for the adoption of a data transmission standard within the airline industry. NDC is not a new system, it's simply a modern web-based messaging language.

NDC covers the end-to-end booking process and shows you the information that ba.com or another airline’s website would display. So together we can manage the whole travel experience including shopping, booking, payment & ticketing, servicing and interlining. 

British Airways has been a lead player in developing the NDC standard and we are open to interested parties from across the travel industry.

The British Airways Shop and Order APIs currently include:

1. Air Shopping - allows users to search for flight options and provides pricing
2. Flight Price - validates a price quote and provides payment options
3. Seat Availability - returns a seat map, with available seats and associated prices
4. Order Create -completes the booking, processes payments, books any requested seating and issues the e-ticket & EMD (if applicable)
5. Order Retrieve - allows users to retrieve and view details of existing bookings 
6. Order Change - processes and confirms requested booking modifications
7. Itin Reshop - provides the amount to be refunded should the agent cancel the booking. Should a change be needed or made to the booking it will provide any required additional collection details or residual values as applicable.
8. Order Cancel - cancels a booking and triggers refund process (if applicable)
9. Service List - returns optional services with prices available; special meals, add Executive Club card number, book special assistance and other services
10. AirDocIssue - processes payment for a confirmed booking as per Ticketing Time Limit 

NDC provides you with an internet-based connection with more capability than is currently available today. The booking process is simpler and easier so you can view the entire range of products and services we offer with comprehensive information to help you advise your customers.

Instead of schedules, availability and fares coming from various sources, these will be combined. We provide standardised and consistent details about what we can offer customers.

In addition, NDC enables us to distribute previously unavailable products and services to the GDS. This will include the ability to add flight ancillaries to bookings made in the GDS.

NDC benefits us as an airline, giving us improved capability to display our range of products and services in a useful and straightforward way. The end customer benefits with a more transparent booking process so they can make informed decisions about what each airline offers and who they decide to travel with.

British Airways NDC offers a direct link into our host reservation system for flight search, booking and ticketing. We use a modern API (Application Programming Interface) technology to allow for distribution of our products and services.

We are open to all interested parties, subject to technical and commercial criteria. This includes IATA agents, distribution providers and other parties.

Our NDC APIs will enhance your ability to retail the full range of our products.

You can access these services by Shop and Order Integration, or through connection to one of our NDC Service Providers. Details of how to apply are below and you will also need to complete the Certification process if you're interested in live bookings.

By participating in British Airways NDC, you will be able to:

• better serve customer needs with our ancillary products (enabling you to purchase seating and additional baggage)
• view product features for a true product comparison
• have access to the lowest-fare finder +/- 3 days
• have new ways to access existing products and services
• get faster, easier access to new products and services
• see a reduction in Agency Debit Memos
• continue to pay by credit and debit card, or IATA BSP (where available)
  have access to corporate or agent fares where applicable

Participation in British Airways NDC is entirely optional and free of charge.

Becoming a test partner does not guarantee access to live booking capability. We will assess each application according to commercial and technical criteria.

• Commercial and Technical User Guides are available on request, to support evaluation of the Shop and Order APIs.
• If you're solely interested in accessing British Airways flight ancillaries through a GDS, please contact your GDS provider for more details.

You should identify your preferred connection type before applying for access to British Airways NDC:

Shop and Order integration (B1)

1. Raise a request with NDC Helpdesk or speak to your British Airways / Iberia Account Manager to express your interest.
2. Visit developer.ba.com to register and then apply for access to the Shop and Order API Plan. You must accept the British Airways API Agreement.
3. Complete the B1 Certification Form and send it back to us using the NDC Helpdesk. You'll then receive our test plan guidelines. If you are an IATA agent, you will be required to accept the Travel Agency Addendum
4. You should demonstrate evidence of making successful bookings in the test environment
5. You'll then receive provisional Certification approval from us and gain access to the live environment
6. You should demonstrate evidence of making successful bookings in the live environment (if required)
7. You'll then receive full Certification approval and continue to make live bookings

NDC Service Provider connection (B2)

1. Raise a request with NDC Helpdesk or speak to your British Airways / Iberia Account Manager or your preferred NDC Service Provider to express your interest.
2. Complete the B2 Certification Form and send it back to us using the NDC Helpdesk. You must accept the British Airways API Agreement. If you are an IATA agent, you will be required to accept the Travel Agency Addendum
3. You'll then receive provisional Certification approval from us and gain access to the live environment
4. You should demonstrate evidence of making successful bookings in the live environment (if required)
5. You'll then receive full Certification approval and continue to make live bookings

We have compiled a list of the NDC service providers we're working with, alongside their capabilities and contact details.

Find out more

For any other queries or to participate in British Airways NDC, contact your British Airways/Iberia Account Manager or email selling.distribution@ba.com

For more information about the IATA NDC Program, visit www.iata.org/ndc
For more information about our Shop and Order APIs, visit and register on developer.ba.com
For press queries, you can contact our Press Office

At present, we are able to support the vast majority of markets through NDC. However, some may still be restricted for technical or commercial reasons. Please email us at selling.distribution@ba.com for details of availability in your market(s).

Find more useful information about NDC in our user guide.

Commercial user guide 2018

Please find your relevant number in the Trade Support section on our contact us page.