Turkish Airlines to introduce GDS booking fee in October

Turkish Airlines will launch a New Distribution Capability platform for agents on 1 October, at which time it also will begin charging a distribution fee for bookings made via global distribution systems, the carrier announced.

The platform, TKConnect, will aim to “offer advanced technology in a user-friendly way,” according to Turkish Airlines chief commercial officer Ahmet Olmustur. 

The carrier said the platform will include promotional fares available only through NDC, “rich content” with visuals and descriptions, differentiated ticket pricing and “enhanced” ancillary services.

Turkish is offering three connection options to the platform: a direct connection via NDC APIs; an aggregator connection via “certified technology partners,” which Turkish did not specify in its announcement; and a web-based booking portal, according to the carrier.

In its announcement, the carrier also did not specify what the surcharge for GDS bookings will be as of 1 October, and a spokesperson for the carrier did not have that information immediately available. 

The carrier said agents still will be able to access legacy content via GDSs with that fee, but its new content would be available only through TKConnect. 

There will be no fees associated for services via TKConnect, Turkish said in its FAQs on the agent page for the platform.