Finnair is set to introduce a new fare type dedicated to corporates that will only be accessible via direct and NDC-connected channels.
The PrioFlex fare will be available to members of the Finnair Corporate Programme from 27 February and will include “all the benefits” of the carrier’s Flex tickets as well as additional perks such as priority check-in, security and boarding.
The new ticket type includes luggage and seat selection and also permits travel date changes and a refund if there is a need to cancel the trip, according to the carrier. The new fare is available for Economy Class on short-haul flights and Premium Economy and Economy Class on long-haul flights, excluding Atlantic Joint Business and Siberian Joint Business routes.
The PrioFlex fare type will only be accessible through direct and NDC-connected channels and marks the latest step in the carrier’s move “towards modern distribution”.
Last year, the carrier began to restrict the availability of domestic fares to direct and NDC-based channels, which now include Sabre and Amadeus. It also introduced continuous pricing for bookings made via agencies and TMCs. Following this, Navan, in September, integrated the carrier’s NDC content as part of its overall NDC mix.
Finnair head of sales and distribution development, Heidi Pajari, in a recent interview with BTN Europe stablemate The Beat, said the carrier has seen “a lot of progress” in moving TMCs and corporate customers towards “modern” distribution channels.
"Corporate travel overall is very important for us and forms a big part of our indirect sales, so we really want to be sure the new technology meets the demands of the corporate segment," she said.
In 2022, Finnair introduced a surcharge for bookings made through GDSs for flights starting in Europe, as well as from several markets in Asia and the Middle East. The airline also removed its Finnair Light fares from EDIFACT-based systems and, as reported in The Beat, a further exodus is expected throughout 2024, starting with leisure-focused short-haul routes across Europe.
BTN Europe has contacted Finnair for further details.