Turkish Airlines to impose $24 fee on EDIFACT bookings

Turkish Airlines will begin charging a ‘distribution cost recovery fee’ of US$24 (or the equivalent in local currency) per ticket booked through GDS EDIFACT channels from 1 October.

The introduction of the fee – first announced in May – coincides with the airline’s launch of its NDC-based platform, TKCONNECT, as it ramps up its new distribution strategy.

Turkish said EDIFACT content will continue to be available through contracted GDS channels, naming Amadeus and Travelport, but not Sabre, following the recent expiration of its distribution deal.

The new fee will not be applied on bookings made through TKCONNECT or other direct channels, nor via its recently announced non-GDS aggregator partners: Travelfusion, Verteil, DRCT, Mystifly, Nuua, Nuflights and Theta.

In a statement posted online, the airline said: “We highly value your partnership and your efforts to adapt to the innovations in our industry. In this regard, we are pleased to inform you that the majority of our agencies have successfully integrated into the TKCONNECT system.”

It added: “We are committed to advancing with firm steps to align our content with modern standards and simplify processes in collaboration with our partners.”