Navan Expands Airline Retailing Strategy with First SAS NDC Direct Connection, Unlocking Broader Fare Access and Enhanced Savings for Corporate Travelers
Navan today announced a major milestone in its airline distribution strategy with a New Distribution Capability (NDC) integration with Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) Scandinavian Airlines (SAS). The integration enables SAS to distribute its fares, ancillary services, and real-time availability directly through Navan’s platform, significantly expanding the range of content available to corporate travelers and travel managers.
With this development, Navan becomes the first Travel Management Company (TMC) to access SAS NDC content through a direct API connection using NDC version 21.3. The move underscores both companies’ commitment to modern airline retailing, improved transparency, and more personalized travel experiences for business customers.
The integration marks another step forward in the aviation industry’s transition away from legacy distribution systems toward modern, API-driven retailing models that enable airlines to offer dynamic pricing, richer product bundles, and more flexible post-booking services.
Advancing Airline Retailing Through NDC Technology
The New Distribution Capability (NDC) is an industry-standard communication protocol developed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to modernize how airlines distribute content. Traditional distribution systems, often based on EDIFACT messaging, limit airlines’ ability to fully control pricing, merchandising, and product differentiation.
By contrast, NDC allows airlines like SAS to deliver a richer set of offers directly to travel platforms such as Navan in real time. This includes not only base fares but also ancillary services such as seat selection, baggage options, and bundled fare products.
The SAS-Navan integration leverages this capability to provide corporate customers with a more complete and transparent view of available travel options. Instead of relying on fragmented or delayed fare data, users receive up-to-date pricing and availability directly from SAS systems.
A Direct Connection for Real-Time Fare Access
Through the new integration, SAS can now distribute its full range of fares and services directly into Navan’s booking environment. This includes economy fare categories such as SAS Light, as well as dynamically priced offerings that reflect continuous pricing models.
The direct connection eliminates reliance on intermediaries and ensures that pricing and inventory information is consistent with what SAS offers on its own channels. For corporate travelers, this means fewer discrepancies in pricing and a more seamless booking experience.
Edward Fotheringham, Vice President of Sales & Distribution at SAS, emphasized the importance of the partnership in advancing the airline’s modernization strategy.
“Our Modern Airline Retailing journey is centered on delivering more relevant offers, greater transparency, and better value for travelers,” Fotheringham said. “By connecting directly with Navan via our NDC channel, we’re expanding modern retailing at scale, unlocking richer content, and a smoother, more seamless experience for corporate travelers.”
Unlocking Cost Efficiency and Fare Transparency
One of the most significant benefits of the SAS NDC direct connection is cost efficiency. Traditionally, airline distribution through legacy EDIFACT systems includes surcharges that can increase the final ticket price for corporate buyers. By bypassing these legacy channels, the Navan-SAS integration eliminates these additional fees.
This means corporate customers booking SAS flights through Navan may benefit from more competitive pricing structures and improved fare transparency. The removal of surcharge layers also reduces complexity in fare comparisons, allowing travel managers to better optimize budgets.
In addition, access to SAS Light fares and continuous pricing provides more flexibility for cost-conscious organizations. Continuous pricing models allow airlines to adjust fares dynamically based on demand, availability, and other market conditions, potentially offering more favorable pricing options than static fare buckets.
Enhanced Post-Booking Experience and Service Capabilities
Beyond booking efficiencies, the integration also enhances post-booking servicing capabilities. Corporate travel programs often require flexibility due to schedule changes, disruptions, or policy adjustments.
With the NDC direct connection, Navan’s support teams gain improved tools to manage ticket modifications, cancellations, refunds, and itinerary changes more efficiently. This reduces friction in customer service workflows and shortens response times for travelers needing assistance.
The ability to handle post-booking servicing within the same integrated environment also helps maintain consistency between booking and operational support. This alignment is especially valuable for large enterprise customers managing high volumes of travel across multiple regions.
A Unified Booking Experience for Corporate Travelers
From the traveler’s perspective, the integration aims to simplify the booking journey while expanding choice. According to Navan, users increasingly expect access to all available flight options without having to navigate multiple platforms or encounter hidden fees.
Dane Molter, Senior Vice President of Travel Marketplace at Navan, highlighted the importance of delivering a frictionless and transparent user experience.
“We want the experience on Navan to be as smooth as possible for our users,” Molter said. “It comes down to choice — our users want every flight option at the best price. Our new direct NDC connection with SAS lets us pull in their full range of fares, so users can book flights at competitive prices, with no hidden third-party fees, without ever leaving our app.”
By integrating SAS content directly into its platform, Navan enhances its position as a unified travel and expense ecosystem. Travelers can search, compare, and book flights while maintaining visibility into policy compliance and cost controls established by their organization.
Expanding Global Reach of NDC Connectivity
The SAS integration also strengthens Navan’s broader airline distribution network. With this addition, Navan now supports NDC and direct connections with 25 global airlines, including major carriers such as British Airways, Air France, KLM, Lufthansa Group airlines, Iberia, United Airlines, and American Airlines.
This growing network reflects a wider industry trend toward direct airline distribution partnerships, as carriers seek greater control over their products and pricing strategies while improving customer engagement.
The SAS connection is initially available across multiple regions, including the Nordics, Asia-Pacific, France, Germany, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. A phased rollout in the United States is also planned, further extending the reach of the partnership.
Strategic Importance for the Travel Industry
The collaboration between Navan and SAS reflects a broader shift in corporate travel distribution. Airlines are increasingly investing in NDC infrastructure to replace legacy systems that limit flexibility and innovation.
For SAS, the partnership supports its “Modern Airline Retailing” initiative, which focuses on delivering personalized offers, improved transparency, and more dynamic pricing models. By working with technology platforms like Navan, SAS can extend these capabilities to corporate customers at scale.
For Navan, the integration reinforces its position as a leading AI-powered travel and expense platform focused on unifying booking, expense management, and policy compliance into a single system. Direct airline connections help the company reduce friction, improve pricing accuracy, and deliver a more comprehensive inventory of travel options.
Industry Implications and Future Outlook
The adoption of NDC-based direct connections continues to accelerate across the airline and travel management ecosystem. As more airlines transition toward modern retailing frameworks, platforms like Navan are expected to play a critical role in aggregating and standardizing these diverse content streams.
The SAS integration demonstrates how direct API-based partnerships can benefit both airlines and corporate travel buyers. Airlines gain improved merchandising control and direct customer engagement, while travel platforms and end users benefit from better pricing transparency and enhanced service capabilities.
Looking ahead, continued expansion of NDC connectivity is likely to drive further innovation in corporate travel management. This includes more personalized travel offers, improved integration of ancillary services, and greater automation in post-booking processes.
The partnership between Navan and SAS represents a significant advancement in modern airline distribution and corporate travel technology. By establishing the first direct NDC connection between SAS and a Travel Management Company, the integration delivers tangible benefits in pricing transparency, fare accessibility, and service efficiency.
With expanded fare options, elimination of legacy surcharges, and improved post-booking support, the collaboration enhances the overall travel experience for corporate users while supporting SAS’s broader modernization strategy.
As Navan continues to expand its network of direct airline integrations, the company further strengthens its position at the forefront of AI-driven travel innovation and next-generation corporate travel management.
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