Virgin Atlantic NDC: how agencies and developers access Virgin Atlantic content
The VS NDC Connect portal, Virgin Atlantic’s GDS agreements, its considered approach to NDC, and the ways to connect.
By the Tripgic team · Last updated
What is Virgin Atlantic NDC?
Virgin Atlantic NDC is the airline’s IATA New Distribution Capability API, offered to sellers through its VS NDC Connect portal. It uses NDC schema 21.3 and covers shopping, order creation, servicing, ancillaries, and payment and fulfilment.
Virgin Atlantic reached NDC Level 3 on schema 18.1 in 2018 but took what it calls a considered approach to rolling NDC out to agencies. In 2023 it renewed its Sabre, Amadeus and Travelport agreements to include future NDC content, and its VS NDC Connect portal handles seller registration, documentation and certification. See our plain-English guide to NDC for the standard itself.
Virgin Atlantic NDC timeline: key dates
| Date | What changed | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 2018 | Virgin Atlantic reaches IATA NDC Level 3 certification on standard 18.1, working with Delta towards the first certified airline partnership. | source |
| Apr 2023 | Virgin Atlantic renews its Sabre agreement, giving Sabre the future ability to retail Virgin Atlantic NDC offers. | source |
| Apr 2023 | Virgin Atlantic and Amadeus expand their distribution agreement to cover Virgin Atlantic’s future NDC-based offering. | source |
| Dec 2023 | Travelport renews its Virgin Atlantic agreement, adding NDC content through Travelport+, subject to implementation. | source |
| Mar 2024 | Virgin Atlantic’s CEO says Virgin Atlantic and Delta will take a more considered approach to NDC and keep an omnichannel model. | source |
| Oct 2024 | Virgin Atlantic says it has not yet introduced NDC-enabled content to the trade and expects it in 2025 or 2026. | source |
| Oct 2026 | CAPA reports that Virgin Atlantic is to launch NDC in the UK. | source |
Sellers register for Virgin Atlantic NDC through the VS NDC Connect portal. Virgin Atlantic — VS NDC Connect portal.
Ways to access Virgin Atlantic content
You can connect to Virgin Atlantic directly through its NDC API, through a GDS, or through an aggregator.
| Virgin Atlantic NDC (direct) | GDS | Aggregator (Tripgic) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Sellers that want Virgin Atlantic’s NDC offers and ancillaries directly | Agencies already working in a GDS | OTAs, B2B platforms and startups that want REST/JSON |
| What you build | Virgin Atlantic’s NDC 21.3 API; register, build and certify through VS NDC Connect | Traditional GDS (EDIFACT) workflow; NDC agreed with Amadeus, Sabre and Travelport, but we found no confirmed GDS NDC launch | One REST API; Virgin Atlantic fares blended with GDS, NDC and LCC content |
| Airline changes | You track Virgin Atlantic’s NDC releases | Handled by the GDS | Handled in Tripgic’s connector; your JSON stays the same |
| Other airlines | Virgin Atlantic only | Full GDS content | Other NDC airlines, 3 GDS networks and 67 LCCs |
Official Virgin Atlantic agent portal and access
The airline’s own starting point is Virgin Atlantic — VS NDC Connect portal. 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 Virgin Atlantic fares alongside GDS, NDC and low-cost content in one REST API, so you can sell Virgin Atlantic without a separate airline connection. See the flight booking API.
Also searched as: VS NDC, VS NDC Connect.
Virgin Atlantic NDC vs GDS (EDIFACT) bookings
- Ancillaries: Virgin Atlantic NDC covers ancillaries such as seats, meals and special assistance, alongside order servicing.
- Payment: the NDC API accepts major cards, BSP and ARC settlement, and IATA EasyPay.
- Certification: Virgin Atlantic aligns with IATA’s Airline Retailing Maturity index rather than NDC certification levels.
- No published surcharge: we found no Virgin Atlantic 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 Virgin Atlantic NDC?
It is Virgin Atlantic’s NDC API, offered through the VS NDC Connect portal. It uses NDC schema 21.3 and covers shopping, order creation, servicing, ancillaries, and payment and fulfilment.
How do agents register for Virgin Atlantic NDC?
Sellers and distribution partners register through VS NDC Connect at ndc.virginatlantic.com, which also holds documentation, certification guidance and the NDC roadmap.
Does Virgin Atlantic charge a fee on GDS bookings?
We found no Virgin Atlantic surcharge on GDS EDIFACT bookings. The airline has described a “carrot approach” to NDC and a commitment to omnichannel distribution.
Is Virgin Atlantic NDC available in a GDS?
Virgin Atlantic’s agreements with Amadeus, Sabre and Travelport cover future NDC content. We found no confirmed live launch of Virgin Atlantic NDC in any of them.
How do I access Virgin Atlantic through Tripgic?
Virgin Atlantic is available through Tripgic. You integrate one REST API with sandbox credentials, and Virgin Atlantic fares come back blended with GDS, NDC and low-cost carrier content in the same normalized JSON.
Sources
- Delta Professional — Delta, Virgin Atlantic to become first airline partnership to achieve NDC Standard 18.1 (Aug 2018)
- Travolution — Virgin Atlantic renews long-term global distribution agreement with Sabre (Apr 2023)
- TravelPulse — Virgin Atlantic, Amadeus expand distribution agreement for future NDC content (Apr 2023)
- Business Travel News Europe — Travelport to launch Virgin Atlantic NDC content (Dec 2023)
- The Business Travel Magazine — Virgin Atlantic CEO promises to move slowly on NDC (Mar 2024)
- Business Travel News Europe — Virgin Atlantic vows to work with industry on NDC (Oct 2024)
- CAPA — Virgin Atlantic Airways to launch New Distribution Capability in the UK (Oct 2026)
- Virgin Atlantic — VS NDC Connect general FAQ
- Virgin Atlantic — VS NDC Connect portal
Other airline NDC guides
- British Airways NDC
- Emirates 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
- Air Canada NDC
- Delta Air Lines NDC
- Japan Airlines NDC
- ANA NDC
- Korean Air NDC
- Thai Airways NDC
- Vietnam Airlines NDC
- SriLankan Airlines NDC
- Ethiopian Airlines NDC
- Royal Jordanian NDC
- EgyptAir NDC
- LATAM Airlines NDC
- China Southern Airlines NDC
Related
Sell Virgin Atlantic fares through one API
Virgin Atlantic fares alongside GDS, NDC and LCC content in one normalized REST API. Sandbox credentials at no charge.
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