Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC) announced the completion of Finnair’s New Distribution Capability (NDC) integration with ARC Direct Connect, which enables the airline to expand its direct distribution strategy to the US and its territories. With ARC Direct Connect, Finnair will be able to offer flexible payment options for NDC transactions, including cash and card payments, along with a consistent settlement experience for travel agencies.

Jenni Suomela, Finnair vice president of global sales and channel management, said that “partnering with ARC is an important milestone on our NDC journey.” Adoption of NDC through ARC Direct Connect, she said, “will benefit our joint travel agency network and ultimately enhance customer experience by allowing more choice for travelers.”

By implementing NDC with ARC, said the announcement, airlines have greater flexibility in managing partnerships with the travel agency community. NDC enables airlines to deliver more customized content and products to travel agencies and their customers, creating user experiences and generating offers that are aligned with information on the airline’s website.

Paige Blunt, senior manager of Direct Connect and ONE Order at ARC, said the Direct Connect solution “gives the ARC travel agency community access to Finnair’s expanded NDC offerings while providing flexible payments and business rules that uniquely fit Finnair.” Image: Shutterstock