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Virgin Atlantic has started rolling out New Distribution Capability (NDC) for UK travel agents. The change gives agents new ways to access and sell the airline’s fares and extras.
The phased rollout, announced on 15 October 2026, starts with direct connections to Virgin Atlantic and bookings through travel technology company Travelfusion, the airline’s first supported aggregator. Access through global distribution systems (GDSs) will follow.
NDC is an industry standard developed by IATA, the global airline association. It lets airlines send richer content to travel agents and booking sites than older systems allow. That can include clearer descriptions of fares, photos of cabins and seats, and add-ons such as extra baggage and seat selection, which can be bought at the same time as the ticket.
From launch: agents can connect directly to Virgin Atlantic or book through Travelfusion.
Next: access through GDSs and more aggregators.
Meanwhile: agents who aren’t ready to switch can keep booking through existing GDS channels using EDIFACT, the older messaging standard, so nobody loses access to Virgin Atlantic flights.
Virgin Atlantic says the system was built with input from industry partners and includes full support for changes and servicing after booking from day one.
Anthony Uphill, Virgin Atlantic’s vice-president of sales, described the rollout as “collaborative and intentionally phased”, with the right support and servicing in place from the start.
He also made the airline’s direction clear: NDC will increasingly be where Virgin Atlantic offers its best content and retailing features. Other airlines have taken a similar approach.
More choice when booking through an agent. Over time, you may see more fare options and add-ons presented more clearly when you book Virgin Atlantic through a travel agent or booking site.
Not automatically cheaper. NDC changes how flights are sold, not the price. Fares, baggage and seat selection still depend on the fare you choose.
Changes will be gradual. What you see depends on how quickly each booking platform adopts the new connections.
Virgin Atlantic plans to add GDS and more aggregator connections in the coming months. Trade partners can find out more through the airline’s VS NDC Connect portal.
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