Travelport API Integration: Step-by-Step Process for Online Travel Agency

The global B2B travel market is projected to grow from $36.94 billion in 2024 to $78.30 billion by 2030. For online travel agencies (OTAs) looking to compete in this expanding marketplace, Travelport API integration has become essential for accessing real-time flight bookings, hotel reservations, and car rental services through a single unified platform.

This comprehensive guide walks you through the complete process of integrating Travelport’s Global Distribution System into your travel platform—from initial registration to production deployment.

What Is Travelport GDS API?

Travelport is a leading travel technology company that provides Global Distribution System (GDS) services to travel agencies, airlines, hotels, and travel providers worldwide. Operating across 70+ countries, Travelport connects over 400 airlines, 650,000 hotel properties, and 37,000 car rental locations with travel businesses globally.

Travelport operates through three major GDS platforms:

1. Galileo is one of the largest and most widely used GDS systems globally, offering extensive airline and hotel content.

2. Apollo primarily serves the North American market with comprehensive travel inventory access.

3. Worldspan focuses on automation and operational efficiency for travel businesses.

The Travelport Universal API (uAPI) unifies access to all three platforms through a single integration point. This means developers write code once and gain access to multiple content sources, significantly reducing time-to-market for travel applications.

Explore Travelport’s API offerings:  https://www.travelport.com/products/apis

Types of Travelport APIs for Travel Businesses

Travelport’s Universal API provides access to comprehensive travel services through specialized API modules:

Air API enables flight searching, pricing, booking, and ticketing with real-time availability. Access branded fares, schedules, seat maps, and ancillary services like baggage and meals.

Hotel API provides accommodation searching and booking across hundreds of thousands of properties worldwide with live pricing and availability.

Vehicle API handles car rental searching, booking, and reservation management at 37,000+ locations globally.

Rail API offers rail ticket booking capabilities, particularly valuable for European markets where high-speed rail is a preferred travel option.

Profile Management API allows creation and management of traveler profiles, storing preferences, frequent flyer information, and booking history.

Access the Universal API documentation: https://www.travelport.com/products/apis

Step-by-Step Travelport API Integration Process

Step 1: Understand Your Business Requirements

Before contacting Travelport, clearly define your integration needs. Determine which travel services you require (flights, hotels, cars, rail), your expected monthly booking volume, target markets (domestic, international, or both), and whether you need B2B, B2C, or both capabilities.

Document your technical infrastructure and development team capabilities. Travelport evaluates applications based on business viability and technical readiness.

Step 2: Register Your Business with Travelport

Travelport does not provide open API access—you must register and be approved as a partner.

Visit the official Travelport contact page: https://www.travelport.com/contact

Submit comprehensive business information including:

• Company name and legal registration details
• Website URL and business description
• Country of operation
• Business type (B2B portal, OTA, Travel Agency, TMC, Startup)
• IATA/Non-IATA accreditation status
• Expected API usage categories (Air, Hotel, Car, Rail)
• Projected monthly transaction volume
  
  

A Travelport regional sales representative will contact you to discuss requirements and recommend suitable solutions. Companies with clear business plans, demonstrated market opportunity, and technical capabilities receive faster approvals.

Step 3: Obtain API Credentials and Licensing

After business approval, Travelport provides essential credentials:

• PCC ID (Pseudo City Code): Unique identifier for your agency
• Universal API Key: Authentication credentials for API access
• Target Branch Code: Specific to your business operations
• User ID and Password: Portal login credentials
• UAT Environment Access: Sandbox for development and testing
  
  

Access the MyTravelport portal: https://www.travelport.com/products/apis

Travelport may charge licensing fees based on your business model, expected transaction volumes, and required content access. Discuss partnership programs and volume-based pricing during negotiations.

Step 4: Obtain IATA or Non-IATA Accreditation

Your ticketing approach determines accreditation requirements:

For Direct Ticketing (IATA Accreditation)

If you want to issue airline tickets directly, you need IATA accreditation. This provides ticketing authority, payment flexibility, and direct airline relationships.

Apply through the IATA Travel Agency Program: https://www.iata.org/en/services/travel-agency-program/accreditation-travel/

For US-based agencies, apply through IATAN: https://www.iatan.org/en/accreditation/become-accredited/

For Third-Party Ticketing (Non-IATA)

If you don’t have IATA accreditation, you can partner with a Travelport-licensed IATA agency. Travelport supports hosted agency models where you operate under another agency’s accreditation while building your business.

Read More: What Are IATA Codes and number? Guide for Travel Agency

Step 5: Set Up Your Development Environment

Travelport APIs primarily use SOAP/XML messaging, though newer JSON APIs support RESTful protocols. The JSON APIs deliver search results in under two seconds with modern, lightweight architecture.

Access the Travelport Developer Portal: https://developer.travelport.com

Download API documentation, SDKs, and code samples from the support portal: https://support.travelport.com/webhelp/uapi/Content/Getting_Started/Easy_Overview/UAPI_Overview.htm

Travelport provides code tutorials on GitHub for multiple programming languages:

• Java tutorial for Air and Hotel workflows
• PHP tutorial for Air, Vehicle, and Hotel
• C# tutorial for Air availability and Hotel booking
  
  

Access Travelport GitHub repositories: https://github.com/Travelport

Configure the UAT (User Acceptance Testing) sandbox environment first. This test environment mirrors production functionality with simulated data, allowing trial bookings without real transactions.

Try the Universal API Demo: https://demo.travelportuniversalapi.com

Step 6: Develop Core API Functionalities

Implement your integration systematically:

Authentication: Configure secure API access using your credentials. Implement OAuth 2.0 authentication and token management.

Flight Search and Booking: Build the Air API integration for searching flights by origin, destination, dates, and passenger types. Implement fare pricing with taxes and fees, seat selection, and ancillary services.

Hotel Integration: Develop hotel search by location, dates, and room requirements. Implement availability checking, rate display, and booking confirmation.

PNR Management: Build functionality for creating, retrieving, modifying, and canceling bookings. Implement proper error handling for failed transactions.

Payment Processing: Integrate your payment gateway for secure transaction processing. Implement Travelport’s B2B Wallet for streamlined payments if applicable.

Performance Optimization Tips:

• Use caching (Redis or MongoDB) to store search results temporarily
• Batch API requests where possible to reduce latency
• Set rate limits to avoid exceeding API quotas
• Implement webhooks for real-time updates on booking status changes
  
  

Step 7: Testing and Quality Assurance

Thorough UAT testing is mandatory before production deployment.

Test comprehensive scenarios including:

• One-way, round-trip, and multi-city flight searches
• Multiple passenger types (adults, children, infants with age requirements)
• Various fare classes and branded fares
• Booking modifications and cancellations
• Refund processing workflows
• Error handling and timeout scenarios
  
  

Implement logging and monitoring for all API transactions. Set up real-time alerts for performance issues and potential downtime.

Security testing requirements:

• Verify OAuth 2.0 implementation
• Implement IP whitelisting for trusted sources
• Ensure encryption for PNR details and payment data
• Test vulnerability scanning and penetration testing
  
  

Step 8: Request Certification and Go Live

Submit your certification request through MyTravelport: https://my.travelport.com/web/developer/home

Provide sample API request and response messages demonstrating all implemented functionalities. Your examples must include scenarios covering:

• Adult, child, and infant passenger types with required ages
• Complete booking workflows from search to ticketing
• Modification and cancellation processes
• Payment transaction handling
  
  

Allow approximately 15 days for certification review after submitting complete documentation. Travelport conducts review calls to verify module functionality, installation methods, and security protocols.

Access certification guidelines: https://support.travelport.com/webhelp/uapi/Content/New_Customer_Path/NewCustomer_Certification.htm

Step 9: Production Deployment

After certification approval:

1. Receive production API credentials via secure communication
2. Replace sandbox credentials with production credentials
3. Run final verification transactions with real credentials
4. Implement phased rollout—limit initial deployment to specific markets or agent groups
5. Monitor booking success rates and error frequencies closely

Important: Use your credentials in both Production and Copy environments at least once every 90 days to prevent expiration.

Step 10: Ongoing Support and Optimization

Access Travelport technical support through the support portal: https://support.travelport.com

Travelport Developer Portal members receive:

• Dedicated Partner Technical Specialist for development issues
• Account Manager for commercial reviews
• Access to Travelport Marketplace for application distribution
• Regular API update notifications
  
  

Monitor and optimize continuously:

• Track API response times and booking success rates
• Implement proactive error monitoring and alerting
• Stay updated on API version changes and new features
• Attend Travelport training sessions on best practices
  
  

Benefits of Travelport GDS Integration

Single Integration, Multiple Sources: Access flights, hotels, cars, and rail from hundreds of suppliers through one API connection, reducing development complexity and maintenance costs.

Lightning-Fast Performance: Travelport APIs deliver search results in under two seconds, keeping customers engaged and reducing booking abandonment.

NDC Content Access: Support for IATA’s New Distribution Capability enables access to airline-direct content with personalized offers and dynamic pricing.

Global Reach: Connect to over 400 airlines and 650,000 hotel properties, expanding your inventory without multiple supplier integrations.

Scalable Architecture: Handle millions of daily transactions with Travelport’s proven infrastructure, supporting business growth without technology constraints.

Travelport API Integration Costs

Initial integration typically costs between $4,000 and $5,000 for setup and development. Additional cost components include:

• Licensing fees (negotiated based on business model)
• Transaction fees per booking segment
• Premium support packages (optional)
• Ongoing maintenance and API updates
  
  

Request detailed pricing during commercial negotiations. Consider working with a certified Travelport integration partner to optimize costs and accelerate deployment.

Tips for Faster Approval and Successful Integration

Strengthen Your Application:

• Ensure valid business registration, tax ID, and business license
• IATA-accredited agencies typically receive faster approvals
• Prepare a comprehensive business plan with market analysis
  
  

Technical Preparation:

• Document your technology stack and team capabilities
• Plan integration in phases—start with core booking, then expand
• Ensure your team understands SOAP/XML or JSON API protocols
  
  

Best Practices:

• Use IP whitelisting for API security
• Implement comprehensive error logging
• Train technical staff on Travelport error codes (400, 401, 500 series)
• Train customer support staff on PNR retrieval and modification
  
  

Where can I get Travelport technical support? Access support through MyTravelport (https://my.travelport.com). Developer Portal members receive dedicated technical specialists and account managers for ongoing assistance. 

Read More: What is Travelport GDS Galileo and How Does It Work?

FAQ’S

1. What is Travelport API integration?

Travelport API integration connects your travel platform to Travelport’s Global Distribution System, enabling real-time access to flight, hotel, car rental, and rail content from hundreds of suppliers worldwide through the Universal API.

2. How much does Travelport API integration cost?

Initial integration costs $4,000-$5,000, plus ongoing transaction fees and potential licensing costs. Exact pricing depends on business size, booking volumes, and required content access.

3. How long does Travelport API integration take?

Allow 15 days for certification after submitting complete documentation. The full process from registration through production launch typically takes 2-4 months depending on project complexity.

4. Do I need IATA accreditation for Travelport API?

Not necessarily. IATA accreditation is required for direct ticketing. Non-IATA agencies can partner with licensed IATA agencies for third-party ticketing through Travelport’s hosted agency model.

5. What technical skills are needed?

Development teams need experience with SOAP/XML web services or RESTful JSON APIs, OAuth 2.0 authentication, and familiarity with travel industry booking workflows and GDS concepts.

6. Does Travelport support NDC content?

Yes. Travelport’s modern APIs support IATA’s New Distribution Capability alongside traditional GDS fares, enabling access to airline-direct content with personalized services and dynamic pricing.

7. What GDS platforms does Travelport include?

Travelport Universal API provides unified access to three GDS platforms: Galileo (global coverage), Apollo (North American focus), and Worldspan (automation-focused). One integration connects you to all three.

8. How do I maintain my Travelport credentials?

Use your credentials in both Production and Copy environments at least once every 90 days. Inactive credentials expire and require reactivation through Travelport support.

9. Can startups integrate Travelport API?

Yes. Travelport serves businesses of all sizes. The sandbox environment allows evaluation before commercial commitments. Clear business plans and demonstrated technical capability improve approval chances.