The recent T2RL Engage 2025 event proved to be an incredibly insightful and productive gathering for the global airline community. It was an excellent opportunity to connect with our airline partners, industry peers, and technology leaders to exchange perspectives on the evolving landscape of Offer- and Order-based retailing.
Modularity and Openness as Industry Cornerstones
A recurring theme throughout the discussions was the importance of modularity and openness. As an industry, embracing modular, open standards is critical to unlocking true innovation and enabling airlines to transform at their own pace.
Equally important is recognizing and addressing commercial or contractual practices that risk slowing progress. The dialogue at T2RL Engage reinforced the need for a collective commitment to openness, transparency, and innovation over short-term lock-in strategies. We commend T2RL for fostering such a dynamic forum where these issues can be addressed head-on.
Key Takeaways from T2RL Engage 2025
From the sessions and conversations, several insights stood out as particularly important for the industry’s journey forward:
- Momentum toward retailing-first models is undeniable. Many airlines are already advancing meaningfully on this path.
- Vendors are embracing modular architectures and collaboration. There is growing alignment around integration, knowledge-sharing with IATA, and co-creation of standards where gaps exist.
- Transition timelines will be gradual. Complex IT environments and long-term PSS agreements remain practical realities that must be navigated.
- Surface-level fixes are not the solution. Wrappers and cosmetic enhancements to legacy PSS cannot and should not be positioned as modern retailing platforms.
Looking Ahead
These takeaways underline the areas that demand collective focus as the industry advances toward true Offer- and Order-based retailing. The journey is complex, but the momentum is clear—and the shared commitment across airlines, vendors, and industry bodies is stronger than ever.
At Verteil, we remain dedicated to supporting our partners with flexibility, transparency, and innovative solutions that align with modern retailing principles. The conversations at T2RL Engage 2025 reaffirmed our belief that the future of airline retailing is not only promising but already in motion.
