Turkish Airlines Returns to Sabre, This Time with NDC Support

Turkish Airlines returned to the Sabre GDS on June 24, 2025, and will now offer NDC content through Sabre.

On September 1, 2024, Turkish Airlines exited Sabre after stalled negotiations, instead channeling bookings through its own NDC-based platform, TKConnect. After 10 months of negotiation, a new multi-year agreement was reached. It reinstates the airline’s content in Sabre, and this time includes NDC integration.

Since October 1, 2024, Turkish Airlines has implemented a $24 "distribution cost recovery fee" on all legacy EDIFACT bookings via Amadeus and Travelport. The goal was to incentivize bookings via the NDC channel, where no surcharge applies.

So far, neither Turkish Airlines nor Sabre has confirmed whether the $24 fee will also apply to legacy EDIFACT bookings on Sabre.

This move reflects a shift toward NDC-based bookings, which allow for more dynamic offers and richer content than legacy EDIFACT systems. Turkish Airlines describe the partnership as “shaping the digital transformation of the industry.”

Cover photo by Hacı Elmas on Unsplash