Air Canada New Distribution Capability
Welcome to the Air Canada NDC hub
Find everything you need to know about Air Canada’s New Distribution Capability program - your single point of access to Air Canada’s exciting product offering and content tailored to the needs of our agency partners, corporations and distribution partners.
Are you a travel agency looking for direct access? Explore our NDC solutions, including AC Connex, our free booking tool.
Learn more
Are you a corporation looking for direct booking solutions with Air Canada? Register via one of our certified partners.
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Are you a technology provider with your own application? Get started with our NDC API.
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Air Canada plays a lead role in the modernization and digitization of channels delivering a transparent retail shopping experience with rich content and tailored offers. NDC allows us to work closely with our agency partners and corporations offering industry standard communication for easy and consistent access to Air Canada products and offers.
NDC news
APR 11, 2022
Competition, global disruptions, distribution: Air Canada’s Mark Galardo addresses them all
Read more >
APR 11, 2022Introducing AC Connex our web based NDC solution for travel agencies
Introducing AC Connex our web based NDC solution for travel agencies
Air Canada is pleased to announce our latest offering for our important agency partners, AC Connex which is built on
technology with our NDC partner, Farenexus Group. This new Air Canada platform is an industry leading platform that provides rich NDC content to our agency partners. We are making AC Connex available to
the market at no cost to enable all agencies an efficient and agent friendly means of booking NDC content. AC Connex has been built in collaboration with Farenexus Group who has become a trusted NDC technology
partner for Air Canada.
About Farenexus
Farenexus Group as a company was founded in Montreal in 2017. Farenexus Group empowers companies with corporate leisure,on and off-line booking solutions, contract management,
process automation, customer profile & policy management and data-driven insights to transform into more efficient operations.
Learn more about FarenexusExternal site which may not meet accessibility guidelines..
OCT 7, 2021
New report shows the importance of NDC technology in travel
Read more >
OCT 7, 2021
More carriers to move to NDC supporting the ongoing change within the industry
Read more >
Air Canada NDC program
What is NDC? NDC (New Distribution Capability) is a travel industry-supported program (NDC program) launched by IATA for the development and market adoption of a new data transmission standard (NDC Standard), that enables and enhances communication between airlines, agents and third-party systems.
The Air Canada NDC program provides our agency partners with a tailored experience and access to our full suite of exclusive content including exciting offers and unique products and features.
Discover which connection method suits you and your business best, and find out everything you need to know about the Air Canada NDC program in our frequently asked questions.
NDC benefits
We are committed to delivering a reliable and content-rich service with an array of functionalities, as well as providing a host of benefits to the traveller experience.
Key offerings
Dynamic content beyond the expected fares, schedules and inventory information
Air Canada for Business access
Air Canada for Corporate negotiated bundles
Meetings and Events access
Exclusive offers with promotional codes
Optional services
Maple Leaf Lounge access
Advanced and Preferred Seat selection
Air Canada Bistro meal vouchers
Shopping experience
Aeroplan recognition throughout every step
Personalisation
Access to Air Canada rich content across the booking experience
Frequently asked questions
About Air Canada’s NDC program
What is NDC?
NDC is a travel industry-supported program launched by IATA for the development and market adoption of a new, XML-based data transmission standard, that enhances communications between airlines and travel agents by giving you the same capabilities as airline websites.
What is Air Canada’s NDC program?
Our NDC program offers agency partners a rich content channel with standardized communication and great selling opportunities for all parties.
The program allows Air Canada to work closely with our agency partners to enrich the customer’s shopping experience with targeted and personalized offerings and bundles for all leisure, group and corporate customers.
What are the benefits of Air Canada’s NDC program?
Air Canada’s NDC program offers agency partners full access to Air Canada’s suite of products including Air Canada for Business, branded fares, optional services, promotional fares and more.
Learn more about the program and its benefits.
About Air Canada’s NDC solutions
How do I access Air Canada NDC content?
Air Canada offers NDC connectivity solutions based on your business model and needs. Third-parties, agencies and online booking tools can access Air Canada content by connecting directly to the Air Canada NDC API or by working with a variety of Air Canada NDC certified technology partners.
Agencies will soon have access to our NDC content through AC Connex – our free, web-based tool that is currently in a pilot testing phase.
What is an API?
An API (Application Programming Interface) is a software that allows two applications to talk to each other. In other words, an API is the messenger that delivers your request to the provider that you're requesting it from and then delivers the response back to you.
Who can use Air Canada’s NDC API?
The Air Canada NDC API is open to agencies, any third-party intermediaries or IT providers. The NDC API enables the travel industry to transform the way Air Canada’s products are retailed to corporations, leisure, and business travellers, by offering an improved shopping experience.
What is AC Connex?
AC Connex is our free, web-based intuitive booking tool designed for travel agencies to give access to Air Canada’s enhanced content and a whole host of functionality, features and capabilities for your business.
The desktop is currently in a pilot testing phase. We will communicate the launch date in our 2023 plans.
What is the turnaround time to connect?
The timeframe to implement our NDC content into your booking tool using the Air Canada NDC API or with the help of one of our certified technology partners will vary with each provider.
Learn more about our NDC solutions.
About Air Canada’s NDC features
Can travel agents modify bookings using Air Canada’s NDC API?
Yes, we offer comprehensive servicing capabilities enabling customers and agencies to make voluntary changes to their itinerary for all markets before or after travel commenced. This includes adding or changing optional services and or seat selection.
Learn more about new and upcoming features.
What type of discounted fares and offers are available for agents to book via the Air Canada NDC API?
All tools for our NDC content have the possibility of supporting:
- The Air Canada for Business rewards program
- Air Canada for Corporate negotiated fares
- Economy Basic domestic fares
- Exclusive offers with promotional discount codes
- Meetings and Events discount codes
Net and IT fares will be available at a later date.
Which forms of payment are supported?
Air Canada’s NDC program offers agency partners full access to Air Canada’s suite of products including Air Canada for Business, branded fares, optional services, promotional fares and more.
We currently accept all the following forms of payment:
- Credit card
- BSP in Canada
- UATP
- Enet
Air Canada NDC solutions
Ready to join Air Canada’s NDC program? Discover which solution best matches your business or product. Simply make your selection and find out how to get started below.
This is the right solution for you if you are:
A travel agent with your own platform
A technology provider looking to connect your own platform
About the Air Canada NDC API
Designed for technology providers or travel agencies with their own application, the Air Canada NDC API will give you access to Air Canada's enhanced content and functionality and a whole host of exciting features.
Find the steps below to begin integrating the Air Canada NDC API into your business.
1. Register and get started
- Fill in this form to register your business and create your account.
- Gain access to the Air Canada NDC API.
- The distribution team will review your information and be in touch with the tools you need to start your integration.
2. Build, integrate and test
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Build your integration with our latest documentation and tools provided upon registration. - Submit any queries in the NDC Support Portal. The team will be happy to assist you with implementation once you request your login.
- Update your displays based on Air Canada’s display requirements.
API version and technical documentation
We support version 2017.2 API schema and have achieved NDC@Scale certification from IATA. We encourage you to develop towards the 2017.2 XML schema to gain access to all the exciting features and content from Air Canada.
We are continuously updating and introducing more features, so we encourage users of our NDC API to always reference and use our latest documentation where we will post news on upcoming planned releases as they become available.
3. Get certified and go live
- Complete your display certification test cases.
- Receive approval from a member of Air Canada’s distribution team.
- Get live access and you’re ready to go!
Air Canada NDC API features
The Air Canada NDC API offers a whole host of capabilities, with many new, exciting features coming soon.
Current functionality
Description
Air shopping / offers
Shop for one way, round-trip and multicity* itineraries.
*Multicity is limited to North America itineraries. International itineraries will be supported in subsequent releases.
Offer price
Detailed and comprehensive pricing for selected offers for customers.
Optional services
Select and add to your trip optional services such as Maple Leaf Lounge access and Air Canada Bistro meal vouchers and more.
Seat map
View seat maps, select seats and view advanced and preferred seat pricing.
Order create
Place your order and complete your booking.
Order cancel
Cancel your booking and get refund options based on ticket refundability rules including: Refund to original form of payment or retain credit value.
Order change
Make voluntary changes to your itinerary for all markets before or after travel has commenced. Add or change your travel options and/or seat selection.
Order list
Retrieve and view your booking details.
Air doc display
Retrieve and display ticket details and status.
Air Canada for Business
Shop and book all special price offers and perks offered via the Air Canada for Business program.
Air Canada for Corporate
Get access to book corporate-negotiated prices.
Meeting and Event program
Access to Air Canada’s Meeting and Events program with reduced rates and benefits when travelling with 10 or more.
Promotional offers
Access to exclusive promotional offers using promotional codes.
This is the right solution for you if you are:
A corporation looking to connect with an Air Canada certified technology partner
A travel agent looking to connect your own platform to an Air Canada certified technology partner
Air Canada NDC technology partners
With our extensive network of certified technology partners, we offer a wide range of functionality and technical services for corporations and travel agents. Get started by choosing one of our trusted partners and follow the link to contact them directly.
If you are a new technology provider looking to connect, check out our own NDC API.
This is the right solution for you if you are:
A travel agent looking for our free, desktop platform
AC Connex
AC Connex is Air Canada’s free, desktop, intuitive booking tool designed for agencies. Get access to Air Canada’s enhanced content and a whole host of functionality, features and capabilities for your business.
Gives you access to:
Full content from Air Canada
Access to all Air Canada NDC features
Profile integration and management
Data integration for accounting and invoicing
Dashboard and reports
Do you have any questions about Air Canada’s NDC?
Are you connecting your own application? Or perhaps you need Air Canada NDC support? Whatever your query may be, you can find what you’re looking for in one of the sections below.
Air Canada NDC program
To learn more about the program’s details and benefits, please visit Air Canada New Distribution Capability.
Air Canada NDC API
For NDC support, we invite you to log into our Technical Support Desk to submit your questions.
Frequently asked questions
Find out everything you need to know about the Air Canada NDC program in our frequently asked questions.
Please note, all technical documentation and the NDC Support Portal are currently offered in English only.