MCP vs. NDC and other challenges facing airline distribution

At the UATP-hosted Airline Distribution 2026 conference, experts discussed AI's impact on the NDC standard. Some believe AI may make NDC obsolete, with new MCP (e.g., WebMCP) having potential to replace it. American Airlines and United have direct sales ratios of 55% and 70%, but indirect channels remain important. AI has exacerbated the look-to-book problem, requiring industry to rethink commercial constructs.