Turkish Airlines NDC: how agencies and developers access TKCONNECT
TKCONNECT, the GDS EDIFACT fee, NDC-only fares, GDS changes, and the three ways to connect.
By the Tripgic team · Last updated
What is Turkish Airlines NDC?
Turkish Airlines sells NDC to the trade as TKCONNECT. Agencies reach it through a direct NDC API, approved NDC aggregators or a web booking portal, and use it to book Turkish Airlines flights with NDC-only promotional fares, differentiated pricing and ancillaries such as extra baggage and seat selection.
Turkish Airlines moved fast: it launched TKCONNECT in 2024, left Sabre for ten months, and put a per-ticket fee on GDS EDIFACT bookings that it raised in 2026. For anyone selling TK, the channel you book through now changes the price. See our plain-English guide to NDC for the standard itself.
Turkish Airlines NDC timeline: key dates
| Date | What changed | Source |
|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | Turkish Airlines announces TKCONNECT with three access routes: a direct NDC API, approved aggregators and a web booking portal. | source |
| May 2024 | TK plans NDC-only promotional fares, differentiated pricing, rich content and promoted ancillaries for TKCONNECT users from 1 October 2024. | source |
| Sep 2024 | TK content leaves Sabre when their agreement expires on 31 August 2024; TK names seven NDC aggregators: Travelfusion, Verteil, DRCT, Mystifly, Nuua, Nuflights and Theta. | source |
| Oct 2024 | A distribution cost recovery fee of US$24 per ticket applies to GDS EDIFACT bookings from 1 October 2024; TKCONNECT, direct channels and the named aggregators are exempt. | source |
| Jun 2025 | TK content returns to Sabre under a new multi-year agreement that includes NDC fares and ancillaries. | source |
| May 2026 | TK’s TKCONNECT page lists a US$30 per-ticket surcharge on GDS EDIFACT reservations from 1 May 2026; TKCONNECT UI, API and aggregator bookings carry no extra fee. | source |
| Jul 2026 | Travelport signs a multi-year deal including NDC-only fares at a reduced NDC surcharge; NDC go-live is set for a future phase. | source |
Fees and exempt channels change. Confirm current terms on the TKCONNECT site. Turkish Airlines — Why TKCONNECT.
Three ways to access Turkish Airlines NDC
You can connect to Turkish Airlines 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 Turkish Airlines | 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 | TKCONNECT NDC API plus onboarding with Turkish Airlines | The GDS’s NDC workflow, separate from EDIFACT | One REST API; Turkish Airlines NDC blended with GDS and LCC fares |
| Airline fee and policy changes | You track TKCONNECT 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 |
Turkish Airlines NDC vs GDS (EDIFACT) bookings
- Fee: GDS EDIFACT reservations carry a US$30 per-ticket surcharge from 1 May 2026 (US$24 from October 2024); TKCONNECT UI, API and aggregator bookings do not.
- NDC-only fares: promotional fares and differentiated pricing are reserved for TKCONNECT users.
- Ancillaries: extra baggage and seat selection are promoted through NDC.
- GDS NDC: back on Sabre with NDC since June 2025; Travelport NDC agreed in July 2026 for a later phase.
How NDC differs from the GDS in general: NDC vs traditional GDS.
Frequently asked questions
What is TKCONNECT?
TKCONNECT is Turkish Airlines’ NDC distribution platform, announced in May 2024. Agencies connect through a direct NDC API, approved NDC aggregators or a web booking portal to access NDC-only fares, rich content and ancillaries.
How much is the Turkish Airlines GDS surcharge?
Turkish Airlines lists a US$30 per-ticket surcharge (or local equivalent) on GDS EDIFACT reservations from 1 May 2026, up from US$24 introduced on 1 October 2024. Bookings through TKCONNECT’s UI, API or approved aggregators carry no extra fee.
Is Turkish Airlines on Sabre?
Yes again. TK content left Sabre when their agreement expired on 31 August 2024 and returned in June 2025 under a new multi-year agreement that includes NDC fares and ancillaries.
Does Turkish Airlines have NDC-only fares?
Yes. Since October 2024 TK has offered NDC-only promotional fares and differentiated pricing to TKCONNECT users.
How do I access Turkish Airlines NDC through Tripgic?
Tripgic holds the Turkish Airlines NDC connection. You integrate one REST API with sandbox credentials, and TK NDC offers come back blended with GDS and low-cost carrier fares in the same normalized JSON, with no TKCONNECT integration on your side.
Sources
- Business Travel News Europe — Turkish Airlines to launch NDC agency portal (May 2024)
- Business Travel Executive — Turkish Airlines launches new NDC platform (May 2024)
- Business Travel News Europe — Turkish Airlines unveils NDC aggregator partners after Sabre exit (Sep 2024)
- Business Travel News Europe — Turkish Airlines to impose US$24 fee on EDIFACT bookings (Sep 2024)
- TravelNews — Turkish returns to Sabre (Jun 2025)
- Travelport — Turkish Airlines multi-year distribution agreement including NDC (Jul 2026)
- Turkish Airlines — Why TKCONNECT
Other airline NDC guides
- British Airways NDC
- Emirates NDC
- Qatar Airways NDC
- Riyadh Air NDC
- Saudia NDC
- Etihad Airways 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
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Turkish Airlines NDC, GDS and LCC content in one normalized REST API. Sandbox credentials at no charge.
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