Adding flights to a product sounds simple: search, price, book. In practice, where your flight data comes from decides your prices, your coverage and your costs.
In short: flight APIs come in three kinds. GDS APIs (Amadeus, Sabre, Travelport) cover most full-service airlines; NDC APIs connect directly to individual airlines with richer content; aggregator APIs combine GDS, NDC and low-cost carriers behind one integration.
The three routes compared
| GDS API | Airline NDC API | Aggregator API | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage | Broad full-service airline coverage | One airline (or group) per connection | Many airlines via one integration |
| Low-cost carriers | Limited | Only that airline | Often included |
| Content | Fares and basic ancillaries | Bundles, seats, bags, offers | Depends on sources |
| Ticketing | Needs IATA accreditation or a ticketing partner | Airline agreement | Usually handled by the aggregator |
| Time to go live | Long (certification) | Per airline | Fastest |
Why NDC matters in 2026
Airlines are steering sellers off legacy GDS (EDIFACT) bookings. In 2026, Lufthansa Group charges over €22 per ticket booked through GDS, Air France-KLM €24 per segment, Turkish Airlines $30, and Qantas a per-segment fee, while bookings via NDC channels avoid or reduce these. For a business selling thousands of international tickets, that's a direct hit to margin, and a reason to make sure your API supports NDC content.
India-specific things to check
- Low-cost carriers: IndiGo, Air India Express and SpiceJet carry a large share of Indian domestic traffic. Confirm your API sells them.
- GST: economy fares carry 5% GST and premium cabins 18% since 22 September 2025; your invoices must show it correctly.
- Corporate fares and GSTIN: business clients need their GSTIN on the booking to claim credit.
- INR payments and settlement: check currency, gateway and refund timelines.
- Visa checks: for international routes, warn travellers early if they need a visa; failed trips mean refund headaches.
How to choose
- Starting out or testing demand? Use an aggregator or a white-label portal.
- Big volume on a few airlines? Add direct NDC connections for those airlines.
- Corporate or complex itineraries? Keep GDS access for coverage and servicing.
- Most mature sellers end up with a mix, and a single system on top.
How Krosz for Business can help
Krosz is building one B2B platform where agencies and companies book travel and the visa in the same place. Here's what's ready today and what's in early access:
| Product | Who it's for | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Krosz Partners: B2B visa portal with your own markup, wallet and white-label branding | Travel agencies | Live: create a free partner account |
| Krosz Enterprise: business-visa panel with team logins and a status dashboard | Companies and travel desks | Live: talk to us |
| Krosz flight API and B2B flight booking | Agencies, startups and companies | Early access: join the list |
Selling international flights to Indian travellers? Ask us about combining flight bookings with visa checks in the same flow.
Talk to the Krosz for Business team →
Last checked on 11 October 2026. Airline distribution rules, taxes and supplier terms change often; confirm current terms with your suppliers and tax adviser.