Emirates NDC: how agencies and developers access Emirates Gateway
Emirates Gateway, the GDS surcharge, NDC-only fares, GDS NDC availability, and the three ways to connect.
By the Tripgic team · Last updated
What is Emirates NDC?
Emirates NDC is the airline’s IATA New Distribution Capability channel, sold to the trade as Emirates Gateway. Agencies, TMCs and travel platforms use it to shop, book and service Emirates flights with the airline’s own offers, including promotional and NDC-only fares, ancillaries and richer content that the legacy EDIFACT/GDS channel does not carry.
Emirates launched Gateway in October 2020 with three ways in: a web booking portal, Gateway Direct (NDC APIs) and Gateway Sync (through approved technology partners). In 2021 it put a surcharge on GDS bookings made outside Gateway, then signed agreements so Travelport and Amadeus agencies could reach its content without it. See our plain-English guide to NDC for the standard itself.
Emirates NDC timeline: key dates
| Date | What changed | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 2020 | Emirates launches Emirates Gateway, built on IATA NDC standards, with a web booking portal, Gateway Direct (NDC APIs) and Gateway Sync (via approved technology partners). | source |
| Feb 2021 | Emirates announces a distribution surcharge on GDS bookings from 1 July 2021, from US$14 to US$25 per sector depending on flight length; booking through Gateway avoids it. | source |
| Jul 2021 | Travelport-connected agencies move to a channel without the surcharge, and Emirates signs a long-term deal to distribute its NDC content through Travelport+. | source |
| Oct 2021 | Sabre and Emirates sign a multi-year worldwide agreement under which Emirates will create and distribute NDC offers through the Sabre GDS. | source |
| Jan 2022 | Emirates renews with Amadeus: from 1 February 2022 Amadeus agencies can access Emirates content without the surcharge, with Emirates NDC content added to the Amadeus Travel Platform during 2022. | source |
| Apr 2023 | Emirates says it holds IATA ARM certification for its Booking Portal, Gateway Sync and Gateway Direct, and starts NDC-only Economy price points from the UK on 2 May 2023. | source |
| Jun 2024 | Travelport launches Emirates NDC content with servicing (changes and cancellations) on Travelport+, first for agencies in the UK, Australia, Indonesia and the UAE. | source |
| Dec 2024 | Sabre starts distributing Emirates NDC offers, with dynamic pricing and ancillaries, through Sabre Red 360 and GetThere. | source |
| Mar 2025 | Emirates announces its NDC is fully integrated with Expedia Group, including add-ons such as seats and extra baggage. | source |
| Jan 2026 | Navan connects directly to Emirates NDC, citing fares and promotions not available through EDIFACT, automated changes and refunds, and ancillaries such as chauffeur-drive. | source |
Surcharge terms differ by GDS and market. Confirm current terms on the Emirates Partner Portal. Emirates — Partner Portal.
Three ways to access Emirates NDC
You can connect to Emirates directly, through a GDS that carries its NDC content, or through an NDC aggregator. The right choice depends on your engineering capacity and how many airlines you sell.
| Direct to Emirates | GDS NDC | Aggregator (Tripgic) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Large agencies and TMCs with their own NDC engineering team | Agencies already working in a GDS desktop or GDS API | OTAs, B2B platforms and startups that want REST/JSON |
| What you build | Gateway Direct NDC APIs plus onboarding with Emirates | The GDS’s NDC workflow, separate from EDIFACT | One REST API; Emirates NDC blended with GDS and LCC fares |
| Emirates offer and policy changes | You track Gateway changes | Handled by the GDS | Handled in Tripgic’s connector; your JSON stays the same |
| Other airlines | One integration per airline | NDC carriers that GDS supports | Other NDC airlines, 3 GDS networks and 67 LCCs |
Emirates NDC vs GDS (EDIFACT) bookings
- NDC-only fares: Emirates offers NDC-only Economy price points (from the UK since May 2023) and promotional fares through Gateway and NDC partners.
- Surcharge: GDS bookings outside Gateway could carry a per-sector surcharge (US$14–25 when introduced in 2021); the Travelport and Amadeus agreements removed it for their agencies.
- Servicing: NDC connections on Travelport+ and Navan include changes and cancellations, and Navan adds automated refunds.
- Ancillaries: seats, extra baggage and services such as chauffeur-drive are sold through NDC.
How NDC differs from the GDS in general: NDC vs traditional GDS.
Frequently asked questions
What is Emirates Gateway?
Emirates Gateway is the airline’s NDC-based trade distribution programme, launched in October 2020. Agencies connect through a web booking portal, Gateway Direct (NDC APIs) or Gateway Sync (approved technology partners) to book Emirates fares, promotional and NDC-only price points, and ancillaries.
Does Emirates charge a surcharge on GDS bookings?
In 2021 Emirates introduced a surcharge of US$14 to US$25 per sector on GDS bookings made outside Gateway. Travelport agencies (July 2021) and Amadeus agencies (February 2022) were then given access without it. Terms vary by channel and market, so confirm current terms with Emirates.
Can I book Emirates NDC through Amadeus, Sabre or Travelport?
Yes. Emirates NDC content and servicing launched on Travelport+ in June 2024 and on Sabre in December 2024. Under its January 2022 agreement with Amadeus, Emirates planned to add NDC content to the Amadeus Travel Platform during 2022.
Does Emirates have NDC-only fares?
Yes. Emirates began NDC-only Economy price points from the UK in May 2023, and NDC partners such as Navan cite fares and promotions that are not available through EDIFACT.
How do I access Emirates NDC through Tripgic?
Tripgic holds the Emirates NDC connection. You integrate one REST API with sandbox credentials, and Emirates NDC offers come back blended with GDS and low-cost carrier fares in the same normalized JSON, with no Gateway integration on your side.
Sources
- Emirates — Launch of new NDC-powered gateway for trade partners (Oct 2020)
- Travel Daily — Emirates to charge GDS fee (Feb 2021)
- Emirates — Travelport and Emirates reach agreements on un-surcharged content and NDC distribution (Jul 2021)
- TTG Asia — Sabre and Emirates reach new distribution agreement (Oct 2021)
- Emirates — Emirates signs new distribution agreement with Amadeus (Jan 2022)
- The Business Travel Magazine — Emirates announces latest NDC move (Apr 2023)
- Travelport — NDC content and servicing for Emirates on Travelport+ (Jun 2024)
- Travolution — Sabre is now offering Emirates NDC content (Dec 2024)
- Gulf News — Emirates and Expedia Group partner on flight bookings (Mar 2025)
- Business Travel News Europe — Navan introduces NDC content from Emirates (Jan 2026)
- Emirates — Partner Portal
Other airline NDC guides
- British Airways NDC
- Qatar Airways NDC
- Riyadh Air NDC
- Saudia NDC
- Etihad Airways NDC
- Turkish Airlines NDC
- Lufthansa Group NDC
- Air France-KLM NDC
- Singapore Airlines NDC
- American Airlines NDC
- United Airlines NDC
- Qantas NDC
- Cathay Pacific NDC
- Iberia NDC
- Finnair NDC
- Air India NDC
- Biman Bangladesh Airlines NDC
- flydubai NDC
- Gulf Air NDC
- Oman Air NDC
- Malaysia Airlines NDC
Related
Sell Emirates NDC fares without a Gateway integration
Emirates NDC, GDS and LCC content in one normalized REST API. Sandbox credentials at no charge.
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