Airlines, IATA, & The OpenAPI Hub

Introduction

Welcome to the world of aviation, where digital transformation is revolutionising how airlines and their partners connect. Like any transformation, the challenges and opportunities come with adopting it. So how are they planning to do so in the upcoming year? It seems the answer lies in APIs.

Airlines aim to maximise interoperability by adopting modern API technology and conforming to open API standards while retaining complete data control. The Open API Hub, developed in partnership with RapidAPI, acts as a matchmaker, promoting the adoption of industry standards and facilitating the discovery and onboarding of APIs. This innovative technology brings greater transparency to industry standards, promotes innovation, and accelerates the discovery of new solutions, leading the way to an open data ecosystem.

Wait, APIs? OpenAPIs? What are you on about?

An API (Application Programming Interface) is a set of protocols, tools, and routines for building software applications that allow different systems to communicate and exchange information. APIs define how one software application can interact with another, allowing developers to use functionality or data from another application without knowing the underlying code. APIs can be used to integrate different services, automate workflows, and improve the functionality of software applications, making them a crucial part of modern software development.

The Open API Hub is a central platform that will allow any party in the aviation industry (well, any industry, really), including customers, sellers, airports, and airlines, to connect seamlessly and securely with any other party, thus enabling airlines to take back control of their data and run their businesses autonomously.

The Opportunities & Challenges

The current challenge for the aviation industry is the excessive reliance on third-party communication networks, which limits the ability of airlines and other value chain participants to control the use of their data and dynamically adjust processes when changes or disruptions occur. The Open API Hub will enable airlines to adopt modern API technology and conform to open API standards, maximising communication while retaining complete data control.

The Open API Hub will act as a matchmaker, making it easier for airlines and their partners to discover APIs and establish connections. In addition, the hub will enable the discoverability and promotion of industry APIs, facilitate API onboarding, and promote the adoption of the industry's Open API standards and programs.

IATA and the OpenAPI Hub have partnered to provide APIs accessible to all airlines. By setting these standards, IATA aims to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the aviation industry by streamlining processes and facilitating better communication and collaboration between airlines, airports, and other industry stakeholders. It's evident, to say, a well-needed push to the industry.

However, adopting open API standards will consume considerable airline resources regarding time, money, and expertise.

Nevertheless, the savings and return on investment will be evident once adopted. By adopting these APIs, airlines will have full discoverability and collaboration, even with partners outside the industry. The efficiencies this brings will be explicit.

Moreover, the hub will bring greater transparency to industry standards and programs, such as Modern Airline Retailing, ONE Record, New Distribution Capability certification, and Open Air certification.

Previously, the limited ability to partner with legacy systems also curtailed the potential for groundbreaking ideas from more innovative start-up partners in the industry. The hub should address this issue by enabling start-ups and established organisations to bring fresh concepts to the industry and easily connect with airlines.

The Conclusion

This collaboration and hub is a milestone in building an open data ecosystem. It is an enabler for even more innovation and will help to accelerate the discovery of new solutions, even in the simple implementations of processes such as the passenger ticketing experience will see benefits.

It will be interesting to see how airlines use this hub and these open APIs to innovate their businesses. I, for one, will keep an eye out.