GDS API: Amadeus, Sabre & Travelport, unified in one integration.
Amadeus, Sabre, and Travelport — accessed through a single integration. No separate contracts, no format juggling, no multi-year GDS certification processes. Just one normalized REST API, as part of the Tripgic Flight API.
What is a Global Distribution System?
A GDS is a computerized network that enables travel agencies, OTAs, and booking platforms to access real-time inventory from airlines, hotels, and car rental companies worldwide. The three major GDS networks — Amadeus, Sabre, and Travelport — collectively process billions of transactions annually and connect hundreds of airlines to hundreds of thousands of travel sellers globally.
Amadeus
The world's largest GDS by transaction volume. Headquartered in Madrid, Amadeus powers booking systems for major airlines, travel agencies, and corporations across 190+ markets.
Sabre
Founded from American Airlines' reservation system, Sabre is headquartered in Dallas and serves as the backbone for major North American carriers and global travel agencies.
Travelport
Operating the Galileo, Apollo, and Worldspan platforms, Travelport provides broad carrier coverage with a focus on modern JSON-based APIs and NDC aggregation.
Why direct GDS integration is painful
Integrating with even one GDS takes months of certification, legal contracts, and engineering. Tripgic removes that friction entirely.
Direct GDS Integration
With Tripgic
How Tripgic GDS aggregation works
Your search request
You send one API call with origin, destination, dates, and passengers.
Parallel GDS queries
Tripgic simultaneously queries Amadeus, Sabre, and Travelport in parallel.
Normalize & dedupe
Results are parsed, normalized to a single schema, deduplicated, and ranked.
One clean response
You receive a single JSON response — ready for your UI, no post-processing needed.
GDS coverage at a glance
The combined reach of all GDS networks accessible through Tripgic.
Frequently asked questions
What GDS systems does Tripgic connect to?
Tripgic connects to all three major Global Distribution Systems: Amadeus (1E), Sabre (1S), and Travelport (1G/1V — Galileo, Apollo, Worldspan). All are accessed through a single normalized REST API.
Do I need separate contracts with each GDS?
No. A single commercial relationship with Tripgic covers all GDS networks. You do not need to negotiate separate contracts, complete individual GDS certification processes, or manage multiple technical integrations.
How long does GDS integration take with Tripgic?
Most teams move from sandbox to production in days rather than months. Direct GDS integration typically takes 6-12 months per GDS; Tripgic eliminates that certification queue entirely.
Does Tripgic deduplicate results across GDS sources?
Yes. When the same flight appears in multiple GDS sources, Tripgic deduplicates the results and returns a single entry at the best available price in a normalized JSON format.
What data format does the Tripgic GDS API return?
All responses are returned as normalized JSON regardless of the underlying GDS source — whether the original format was EDIFACT, XML/SOAP, or REST. Your application receives one consistent schema.
What does GDS stand for?
GDS stands for Global Distribution System: a real-time network that connects travel sellers (OTAs, agencies, TMCs) to airline, hotel and car-rental inventory. The three major GDS networks are Amadeus (1E), Sabre (1S) and Travelport (1G/1V). Tripgic aggregates all three behind one REST API.
Is Tripgic an alternative to the Amadeus Self-Service API?
Yes. Amadeus decommissioned its Self-Service developer portal on 17 July 2026, leaving only enterprise contracts. Tripgic gives developers sandbox access to Amadeus, Sabre and Travelport content — plus NDC and 67 low-cost carriers — through one normalized REST API, without a direct GDS contract or certification. Read the Amadeus API shutdown migration guide.
What is the difference between GDS and NDC?
A GDS distributes airline fares through a shared legacy network (EDIFACT/XML) used by every seller; NDC, IATA's New Distribution Capability, is an XML standard airlines use to sell directly with branded fares, dynamic pricing and rich ancillaries. Tripgic blends GDS and NDC results in a single search response, so you get both fare sources from one integration.
Go deeper in the Playbook
- What is a GDS?
Plain-language explainer of Global Distribution Systems, the 1E/1S/1G codes and how GDS fares reach an OTA.
- Amadeus Self-Service API shutdown: migration guide
What the 17 July 2026 decommissioning means and how to move a Self-Service integration to Tripgic.
- Amadeus vs Sabre vs Travelport
Coverage, strengths and commercial differences between the three GDS networks.
- How much does GDS API access cost?
Certification, segment fees and the aggregator model compared.
Skip the GDS certification queue.
One integration. Every major GDS. Sandbox credentials issued at sign-up.