Airline NDC guide · CZ

China Southern Airlines NDC: how agencies and developers access China Southern content

An early NDC pilot, Level 4 certification, the NDC cooperation guide, and the ways to connect.

By the Tripgic team · Last updated 28 October 2026

What is China Southern Airlines NDC?

China Southern NDC is the Guangzhou-based carrier’s own IATA New Distribution Capability platform, which it built in-house. It reached IATA NDC Level 4 in March 2019, the first in China, and supports shopping, booking, payment, ticketing, changes, refunds and paid seats for partners that sign a cooperation agreement.

China Southern joined IATA’s NDC programme in 2013, ran live NDC pilots from 2015, sold its first overseas NDC ticket in 2018 and reached Level 4 in 2019. It also keeps its GDS distribution, renewing with Sabre in December 2022. Agencies apply for NDC access through the airline’s NDC cooperation guide. See our plain-English guide to NDC for the standard itself.

China Southern Airlines NDC timeline: key dates

Date	What changed	Source
Apr 2013	China Southern becomes one of the first airlines to join IATA’s NDC programme.	source
Jun 2015	IATA says China Southern plans a live NDC deployment covering shopping, booking and ticketing in the second half of 2015.	source
May 2016	China Southern is among the first airlines to earn NDC Level 3 certification.	source
Apr 2018	China Southern issues its first overseas NDC ticket through its Direct Connect sales model.	source
Mar 2019	China Southern earns IATA NDC Level 4 (full offer and order management), the fifth airline worldwide and the first in China to do so.	source
Dec 2022	China Southern renews its multi-year global distribution agreement with Sabre, keeping its content available to Sabre-connected agencies.	source
Jan 2024	IATA’s Airline Retailing registry lists the China Southern NDC Platform with messages verified on NDC 21.3 from January 2024, alongside 17.2, 18.2 and 19.2 entries from October 2021.	source

Agencies apply for China Southern NDC through the airline’s NDC cooperation guide, by form and email. China Southern Airlines — NDC cooperation guide.

Ways to access China Southern content

You can connect to China Southern directly through its NDC API after signing a cooperation agreement, through a GDS (traditional content), or through an aggregator.

	China Southern NDC (direct)	GDS	Aggregator (Tripgic)
Best for	Agencies and corporates that want China Southern NDC content and can sign a direct agreement	Agencies already working in a GDS	OTAs, B2B platforms and startups that want REST/JSON
What you build	China Southern’s NDC API, after applying through its NDC cooperation guide	Traditional GDS (EDIFACT) workflow; no China Southern GDS NDC announced	One REST API; China Southern fares blended with GDS, NDC and LCC content
Airline changes	You track China Southern’s NDC releases	Handled by the GDS	Handled in Tripgic’s connector; your JSON stays the same
Other airlines	China Southern only	Full GDS content	Other NDC airlines, 3 GDS networks and 67 LCCs

Official China Southern Airlines agent portal and access

The airline’s own starting point is China Southern Airlines — NDC cooperation guide. Travel agencies use it to read the airline’s agent policies and distribution rules and to contact the airline about access. Access is granted by the airline itself, usually only to accredited agencies, and a direct connection still needs your own integration.

Tripgic returns China Southern Airlines fares alongside GDS, NDC and low-cost content in one REST API, so you can sell China Southern Airlines without a separate airline connection. See the flight booking API.

Also searched as: CZ NDC, China Southern NDC Platform.

China Southern NDC vs GDS (EDIFACT) bookings

Servicing: Level 4 NDC covers search, booking, payment, ticketing, order queries, voluntary and involuntary changes and refunds.
Content: NDC offers can carry rich media, corporate and B2C fares, flight-plus bundles and dynamic fares.
Ancillaries: paid seat selection on international flights is live; upgrades, meals, lounges, baggage and Wi-Fi were announced as planned.
No published surcharge: we found no China Southern surcharge on GDS bookings, and no confirmed GDS NDC launch.

How NDC differs from the GDS in general: NDC vs traditional GDS.

Frequently asked questions

What is China Southern NDC?

It is China Southern’s in-house NDC platform. It reached IATA NDC Level 4 in March 2019, the first airline in China to do so, and handles shopping, booking, ticketing, changes, refunds and paid seats.

How do agents apply for China Southern NDC?

Through the airline’s NDC cooperation guide: download the application form, email it to China Southern, then sign a cooperation agreement and complete technical integration before going live.

Which NDC versions does China Southern support?

IATA’s registry lists verified China Southern messages on NDC 17.2, 18.2 and 19.2 from 2021, and on 21.3 from 2024.

Is China Southern NDC available in a GDS?

We found no announced China Southern NDC launch in Amadeus, Sabre or Travelport. China Southern renewed its Sabre GDS agreement in December 2022 for traditional content.

How do I access China Southern Airlines through Tripgic?

China Southern Airlines is available through Tripgic. You integrate one REST API with sandbox credentials, and China Southern fares come back blended with GDS, NDC and low-cost carrier content in the same normalized JSON.

Sources

Other airline NDC guides

Sell China Southern fares through one API

China Southern Airlines fares alongside GDS, NDC and LCC content in one normalized REST API. Sandbox credentials at no charge.

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