In 2021, the Digital Transformation Advisory Council (DTAC), one of IATA’s Advisory Councils set a strategy to achieve an airline industry's Open Data Ecosystem through the adoption of open API, open standards, and open architecture.
The IATA Open API program was launched as an enabler to grow a data ecosystem and facilitate the industry’s transition away from costly legacy technology. This was done for a number of reasons, namely to improve operational efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance the passenger experience.
The IATA Open API Hub was created as an airline and travel industry portal for discovering APIs provided by airlines, IATA, and other trusted providers, as well as industry standard and digital programs. To date, there are 142 APIs listed, including 70 open APIs. API Standards are developed by IATA’s Open API Working Group to ensure consistency and interoperability in the data exchange standards. IATA certifies APIs that adhere to industry standards, and promotes certified APIs on the Open API Hub.
In support of the Open API program, the Open API SP area consists of an airline industry API community, where industry stakeholders can collaborate to develop and implement API standards, facilitating seamless data exchange and fostering innovation.
The success of the program is largely due to the active participation of the IATA Strategic Partners through:
