Flight Centre and FCM Travel set up global NDC team

FCM Travel Solutions and parent company Flight Centre Travel Group have set up a global airline distribution team.

The team will spearhead industry collaboration between technology and GDS providers, travel management companies and airlines to develop solutions to book and service New Distribution Capability content.

Leading the team is Jason Toothman, executive general manager – global air distribution for Flight Centre Travel Group, based in the USA.

He joins from Sabre Travel Network where his extensive 15-year career spanned diverse senior sales, account management and airline distribution roles.

His most recent position was vice president global accounts APAC based in Brisbane where he led a team responsible for agency sales, customer relationship management, contract negotiations and operational support across the region.

At Flight Centre/FCM he will work closely with airline suppliers and third-party technology providers across multiple markets to help frame and execute the company’s strategy and direction related to airline connectivity and content procurement globally.

Also on the new team is Nicola Ping who has been appointed as manager, air content & distribution, Flight Centre Travel Group EMEA, based in London. 

She joins from British Airways where she has held the role of manager of distribution technology since 2015 working closely with IATA to build the airline’s internal NDC technology offering.

She represented BA on IATA’s Passenger Distribution Management Group.

The team also includes Jason Nooning, general manager – global air distribution, based in Brisbane, Australia.  He has held this role for the past year representing Flight Centre Travel Goup at key industry forums including IATA’s Passenger Distribution Management Group Advisory Forum and Business Travel Summit.

Additionally, Nooning has been actively engaging with stakeholders around the world to discuss and define partnership strategies which capitalise on the capabilities of NDC.

Marcus Eklund, global general manager at FCM Travel Solutions, said: "One of the biggest factors influencing corporate travel in 2019 will be distribution as NDC content becomes more of a reality.

"Our goal has always been to balance the short-term priorities of NDC with building a long-term sustainable booking solution with our technology partners, including Amadeus and Sabre, in collaboration with our key airline suppliers.

"Together with our parent company we have created the Global Airline Distribution Team to drive this long-term solution forwards, not just for ourselves as a leading global travel management company, but to better help airlines connect with our corporate customers and their travellers."