Earlier this week, Frontier Airlines announced an NDC (New Distribution Capability) partnership with Hopper. Starting on Tuesday, the global travel platform’s users gained access to Frontier’s full range of best available published fares, content bundles, and ancillary pricing.

Hopper powers both the Hopper mobile app and HTS partners’ direct channels. The app itself has been downloaded more than 120 million times becoming the most downloaded travel app in 2021 and resonates particularly strongly with Gen Z and Millennial travellers.

Bobby Schroeter, Chief Commercial Officer, Frontier Airlines cited Hopper’s popularity as one of the core reasons behind the partnership, saying:

“As we continue to evolve with the New Frontier, delivering a great customer experience and the best value are at the core of our strategy. Our partnership with Hopper helps get our most competitive fares and product options in front of more travellers, making it easier to choose the right mix of price, comfort, and flexibility.”

The US-based Ultra-low fare carrier’s (ULCC) emphasis on its affordable fares aligns naturally with the global travel platform’s  mission to bring transparency and savings to passengers globally. With Frontier stating a commitment to “Low Fares Done Right” the collaboration will bring convenient options to budget-conscious travellers.

Having amassed a suit of travel fintech products, Hopper has successfully caught the attention of the younger generation of travellers. However, it is not just options like freezing ticket price that won this segment over. The app caters to the younger, mobile-first demographic through a specific engagement model. In an interview with McKinsey & Company in 2023, Hopper CEO Frederic Lalonde explained:

The younger, mobile-first demographic that we target allows us to pursue strategies like these. On mobile, there are many micromoments when you have downtime – perhaps you’re waiting for your coffee or something – and we give you a reason to engage during those moments. This type of engagement model is very common in places like China and Southeast Asia, but it’s much less common in the West. And it’s becoming a unique value proposition for Hopper.

With the industry increasingly embracing the NDC journey, partnerships like this mark a step towards a more modern, customer-centric approach to airline retailing.

 

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