United Airlines and Travelport have entered into a strategic partnership that aims to boost capabilities and functionality for travel agency and corporate partners.
The companies say it marks a significant evolution from the traditional airline-distributor relationship.
Through this deal, Travelport will gain early access to United’s NDC technology roadmap and co-development opportunities.
“Our new model for cooperation with Travelport helps ensure that United’s travel agencies and corporate buyers benefit from the most innovative retail travel solutions available,” said Andrew Nocella, EVP and Chief Commercial Officer of United Airlines.
“Together, we’re setting a new standard for transparency, flexibility, and value in air travel distribution.”
Travelport will receive early access to United’s NDC-enabled extras with teams working together to co-develop new features.
United and Travelport will work together on a deeper level of technical collaboration with a focus on creating new capabilities specifically for the Travelport+ retailing platform built for travel agencies.
It will accelerate the deployment of new features and functionality to travel agencies and corporate buyers.
United will bring its portfolio of Online Booking Tool (OBT) extras to Travelport’s Deem OBT platform.
Over time, this will introduce several new customer-friendly capabilities, including the ability to pool unused United travel credits, directly enroll in the United MileagePlus loyalty program, use United Jetstream amenity funds as a form-of-payment for ancillary purchases, and other initiatives.
OBT extras will also be available in Travelport+.
The collaboration will be implemented in phases, with initial capabilities launching in early 2026.
