A GLOBAL AND LEGAL OVERVIEW OF TRAVEL AGENT REPRESENTATIVES 581 airline. It is unclear what will happen with these data if for example the customer decides to fly with another airline. In 2016 ECTAA raised this matter with the Data Protection Committee of the European Union, and the Committee agreed that the NDC standard included provisions, which could potentially not conform with the EU data protection legislation. The Committee confirmed that it will continue to monitor closely the implementation of NDC and we are regularly updating the EU Committee on data protection on all developments on NDC. Third, since 2014 IATA is making regular announcements. (https://www.iata. org/whatwedo/airlinedistribution/ndc/pages/default.aspx) that there are more and more airlines (now 35 airlines), technology providers and agents which are NDC compatible. However being NDC compatible doesn’t mean that these airlines are fully ready to allow booking transactions on their NDC/Direct connect booking platform. Even the Lufthansa group or Air France/KLM or IAG which have introduced distribution charges on GDS transactions, do not offer a direct connect platform with a full content. Sometime the platform simply doesn’t work (See AF/KLM). In conclusion IATA has been trying to artificially create a demand for NDC, which in practice doesn’t exist. In 2014 they wanted to make a joint study with WTAAA. ECTAA refused to participate as we had serious reservations on the outcomes of a study, which was paid by IATA. The results confirmed that we were right. IATA is currently approaching the National TA associations (See ABAV and others) to seek “support” for NDC. ECTAA believes that adopting NDC should be left to the individual commercial decision of each agent. There will be NDC adoption if NDC fulfils a demand from travellers and meets the needs of the Industry. We don’t think that these two essential criteria have been met so far”. 2. From the Australian Federation ofTravel Agents (AFTA), Mr. JaysonWestbury, Chief Executive of the association, said: “AFTA has not provided any specific public support for NDC towards IATA. We strongly believe there is absolutely no point doing that as it is only the Airlines that can bring NDC to life – should they chose to do so. In the Australian Market, Qantas has come out with an NDC announcement which provides a platform for agents to connect using an API. The GDS will be very much part of this strategy as the majority of agents have no way of consuming
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