{"id":9758,"date":"2026-05-27T17:17:40","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T17:17:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/?p=9758"},"modified":"2026-06-25T16:40:10","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T16:40:10","slug":"modularity-interoperability-defining-future-airline-retailing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/blog\/modularity-interoperability-defining-future-airline-retailing\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Modularity and Interoperability Are Defining the Future of Airline Retailing"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"bsf_rt_marker\"><\/div><h2><span class=\"TextRun SCXW109256756 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW109256756 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 2\">Airline Retailing Has Entered a New Era<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP Selected SCXW109256756 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Airline retailing is no longer defined by the promise of capabilities like continuous pricing, dynamic offers, AI-driven decisioning, or NDC distribution. These capabilities are already being deployed across the industry.<\/p>\n<p>The challenge facing airline leaders today is different.<\/p>\n<p>It is no longer whether to modernize, but how to modernize without creating new operational risk, disrupting revenue-critical systems, or limiting future flexibility.<\/p>\n<p>Modernization has evolved beyond a technology initiative. It has become a business strategy for building a connected commercial ecosystem where shopping, pricing, revenue management, product catalog, and AI-driven decisioning work together to deliver personalized customer experiences and sustainable revenue growth.<\/p>\n<p>Before airlines choose vendors, technologies, or architectures, they must first define the modernization strategy that will guide those decisions.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ModInterop_Image-1-1.png\" alt=\"Modularity and Interoperability Blog Image\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"TextRun SCXW107682395 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW107682395 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 2\">The Challenge: Modernization Without Disruption<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP Selected SCXW107682395 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Most airline commercial systems were designed for an era that prioritized stability and transaction processing\u2014not real-time retailing.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">As airlines introduce continuous pricing, dynamic offers, and AI-powered decisioning, they often encounter familiar challenges:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Innovation requires changes across tightly coupled systems.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Commercial teams remain dependent on lengthy IT development cycles.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">New capabilities are layered onto existing platforms, increasing complexity over time.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Vendor ecosystems create long-term dependency that limits flexibility.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">These aren&#8217;t technology failures\u2014they&#8217;re the natural consequence of legacy architectures supporting modern retailing demands.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The objective isn&#8217;t to replace everything at once. It&#8217;s to determine which capabilities should evolve first, how new and existing technologies should work together, and how to modernize while preserving operational stability and maximizing existing investments.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"TextRun SCXW175125512 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW175125512 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 2\">Modularity and Interoperability: The Foundation for Modern Retailing<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP Selected SCXW175125512 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The industry is increasingly aligning around modular architecture\u2014but modularity alone isn&#8217;t enough.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Modularity determines how commercial capabilities are built, allowing airlines to modernize individual functions such as pricing, shopping, or merchandising without replacing their entire commercial stack.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Interoperability determines how those capabilities communicate across systems, vendors, and platforms.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">One without the other creates new challenges. Modularity without interoperability leads to fragmentation. Interoperability without modularity reinforces dependency. Together, they create a flexible commercial ecosystem that allows airlines to innovate continuously while maintaining architectural control.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">This flexibility is becoming essential as airlines look to connect shopping, pricing, revenue management, product catalog management, offer management, and AI-driven decision intelligence into a single commercial ecosystem.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"TextRun SCXW5445174 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW5445174 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 2\">Architecture Is Now a Commercial Decision<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP Selected SCXW5445174 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Architecture has traditionally been viewed as an IT concern. Today, it directly influences commercial performance.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Real-time pricing, personalized offers, contextual shopping, and AI-driven optimization require systems that can exchange information instantly, scale reliably, and evolve independently.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">When every new capability requires months of integration work or depends on a single vendor&#8217;s roadmap, commercial innovation slows. Time-to-market increases, operational risk grows, and opportunities to improve revenue and customer experience are delayed.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Modern architecture changes that equation.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">By decoupling high-value decisioning capabilities from core operational systems, airlines can introduce new commercial functionality incrementally, integrate best-in-class solutions, and respond more quickly to changing market conditions.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Architecture is no longer simply about technology. It is a strategic enabler of commercial agility.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ModInterop_Image-3-1.png\" alt=\"Modularity and Interoperability Blog Image\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"TextRun SCXW147422483 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW147422483 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 2\">Modernization Starts with Strategy<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP Selected SCXW147422483 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Many modernization initiatives begin by evaluating technologies.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The more successful ones begin by defining the future-state commercial ecosystem.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Rather than asking which platform to replace first, airline leaders should ask:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"3\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">How should shopping, pricing, revenue management, and product catalog management work together?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"3\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Where should AI-driven decisioning create the greatest commercial value?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"3\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Which capabilities deliver the highest business impact today?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"3\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">How can modernization occur without disrupting current operations?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Answering these questions first creates a roadmap for phased transformation rather than large-scale replacement.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">That approach reduces operational risk, accelerates innovation, preserves existing technology investments, and provides the flexibility to adopt new capabilities as standards and customer expectations continue to evolve.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ModInterop_Image-4-1.png\" alt=\"Modularity and Interoperability Blog Image\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"TextRun SCXW205963283 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW205963283 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 2\">Modernization Must Also Scale<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP Selected SCXW205963283 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Flexibility is only valuable if it performs under airline-scale operations.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Modern retailing significantly increases computational demand. Every customer search may trigger dynamic pricing, offer construction, bundling, validation, and personalization across multiple systems in real time. As AI-powered shopping and automated search continue to grow, that demand will only increase.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The commercial ecosystem must therefore be designed not only for openness, but also for performance.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">PROS has demonstrated that performance at production scale by delivering the responsiveness, consistency, and reliability required for global airline operations while enabling continuous commercial innovation.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"TextRun SCXW171093761 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW171093761 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 2\">Partnership Accelerates Transformation<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP Selected SCXW171093761 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Modernizing an airline&#8217;s commercial ecosystem isn&#8217;t simply about implementing new technology. It&#8217;s about making the right strategic decisions that position the business for long-term success.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">That&#8217;s why modernization is most successful when airlines work with partners who bring more than products\u2014they bring expertise, industry perspective, and a shared vision for the future of retailing.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">At PROS, co-innovation means working alongside airlines to develop capabilities that solve real operational challenges while remaining scalable, reusable, and interoperable across the industry.\u00a0Rather than building isolated custom solutions, PROS collaborates with customers to create scalable innovations that can be operationalized across the industry, ensuring every new capability is practical, proven, and designed for long-term value.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">This collaborative approach allows airlines to define their modernization strategy before major technology investments are made. Together, we evaluate how shopping, pricing, revenue management, product catalog, offer management, and AI-driven decisioning should work together to create a connected commercial ecosystem that supports future growth.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ModInterop_Image-6-1.png\" alt=\"Modularity and Interoperability Blog Image\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"TextRun SCXW142259912 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW142259912 BCX0\" data-ccp-parastyle=\"heading 2\">The Future Will Be Defined by Today&#8217;s Decisions<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP Selected SCXW142259912 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The future of airline retailing will not be determined by a single technology decision.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">It will be defined by the modernization decisions airlines make today.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The airlines that lead the next generation of retailing will build connected commercial ecosystems where shopping, pricing, revenue management, product catalog management, and AI-driven decisioning work together through modular, interoperable architecture.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">They will modernize through a phased approach that reduces operational risk, protects existing investments, and creates the flexibility to continuously evolve as customer expectations and industry standards change.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Modernization is not about replacing everything at once, it\u2019s about creating the right foundation for continuous innovation.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Before choosing technologies, airlines should first define the commercial strategy that will shape every decision that follows. Because the future of airline retailing isn&#8217;t something that happens to airlines. It&#8217;s something they actively design.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1779901919911\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>What&#8217;s\u00a0the difference between modularity and interoperability?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Modularity is how systems are structured into independent components, while interoperability is how those components communicate and work together, especially across different vendors.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1779901930814\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>How does\u00a0a monolithic\u00a0IT architecture create a business problem?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Tightly coupled, monolithic systems create IT bottlenecks. This slows down the implementation of pricing and offer changes, which reduces the commercial team&#8217;s agility and negatively\u00a0impacts\u00a0competitiveness and revenue.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1779901941551\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Why isn&#8217;t a platform with APIs always truly interoperable?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">True interoperability is more than just having APIs. Sometimes, incumbent vendors create commercial and operational barriers, like prohibitive integration costs, long implementation timelines, and controlled dependencies, to make\u00a0integrating with\u00a0third-party systems difficult. This creates a controlled ecosystem rather than a genuinely interoperable one.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1779901952466\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>What is co-innovation?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Co-innovation is not building custom software for a single airline.\u00a0It&#8217;s\u00a0about collaborating with airlines to develop new,\u00a0productized\u00a0capabilities based on real-world needs. This approach ensures new features are relevant, practical, and proven to be scalable in live environments.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1779901961455\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Why are look-to-book ratios increasing?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Modern airline retailing has transformed a simple &#8220;look&#8221; into a complex, real-time offer construction process. Each customer search can now trigger multiple backend requests involving dynamic pricing and bundling, which significantly increases computational demand. AI-driven searches and metasearch distribution also contribute to higher volumes, even without a change in customer demand.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1779901973189\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>How does airline architecture impact business?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Architecture directly affects an airline&#8217;s revenue performance by influencing its ability to respond to market changes, price offers\u00a0precisely, and\u00a0execute consistently across channels. It\u00a0impacts\u00a0time to market, integration costs, and the ability to innovate, making modularity and interoperability crucial for commercial viability.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1779901985701\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Do airlines need to completely\u00a0replatform\u00a0their systems to modernize?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">No. A modular and interoperable architecture allows airlines to modernize incrementally. This phased approach reduces risk, preserves business continuity, and allows carriers to prioritize high-impact capabilities like dynamic pricing before modularizing other functions over time.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Discover how airlines can achieve modern retailing by leveraging modular systems, proven interoperability, and scalable decision-making to innovate, adapt, and lead in a competitive landscape. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":98,"featured_media":9763,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"footnotes":""},"categories":[152],"tags":[46,167,63,99,62,119,66,100,64,48],"class_list":["post-9758","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-language-english","tag-product-airline-dynamic-ancillary-pricing","tag-product-airline-dynamic-offers","tag-product-airline-group-sales","tag-product-airline-merchandising","tag-product-airline-real-time-dynamic-pricing","tag-product-airline-retail","tag-product-airline-revenue-management","tag-product-airline-shopping","tag-type-blog"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Modularity &amp; Interoperability Are Defining the Future of Airline Retailing | AI-powered airline retailing and offer management platform<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover how airlines can achieve modern retailing by leveraging modular systems, proven interoperability, and scalable decision-making to innovate, adapt, and lead in a competitive landscape.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/blog\/modularity-interoperability-defining-future-airline-retailing\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Modularity &amp; Interoperability Are Defining the Future of Airline Retailing | AI-powered airline retailing and offer management platform\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Discover how airlines can achieve modern retailing by leveraging modular systems, proven interoperability, and scalable decision-making to innovate, adapt, and lead in a competitive landscape.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/blog\/modularity-interoperability-defining-future-airline-retailing\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"PROS Resources Center\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/PROSInc\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-05-27T17:17:40+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-06-25T16:40:10+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ModInterop_Image-6-1.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"870\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"473\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Bhaskara Guntreddy\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Modularity & Interoperability Are Defining the Future of Airline Retailing | AI-powered airline retailing and offer management platform","description":"Discover how airlines can achieve modern retailing by leveraging modular systems, proven interoperability, and scalable decision-making to innovate, adapt, and lead in a competitive landscape.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/blog\/modularity-interoperability-defining-future-airline-retailing\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Modularity & Interoperability Are Defining the Future of Airline Retailing | AI-powered airline retailing and offer management platform","og_description":"Discover how airlines can achieve modern retailing by leveraging modular systems, proven interoperability, and scalable decision-making to innovate, adapt, and lead in a competitive landscape.","og_url":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/blog\/modularity-interoperability-defining-future-airline-retailing\/","og_site_name":"PROS Resources Center","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/PROSInc","article_published_time":"2026-05-27T17:17:40+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-06-25T16:40:10+00:00","og_image":[{"width":870,"height":473,"url":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ModInterop_Image-6-1.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Bhaskara Guntreddy","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/blog\/modularity-interoperability-defining-future-airline-retailing\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/blog\/modularity-interoperability-defining-future-airline-retailing\/"},"author":{"name":"Bhaskara Guntreddy","@id":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/#\/schema\/person\/c1c8309159a5f15e1354ccd81680e57f"},"headline":"Why Modularity and Interoperability Are Defining the Future of Airline Retailing","datePublished":"2026-05-27T17:17:40+00:00","dateModified":"2026-06-25T16:40:10+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/blog\/modularity-interoperability-defining-future-airline-retailing\/"},"wordCount":1350,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/blog\/modularity-interoperability-defining-future-airline-retailing\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ModInterop_Image-6-1.png","keywords":["language-english","product-airline-dynamic-ancillary-pricing","product-airline-dynamic-offers","product-airline-group-sales","product-airline-merchandising","product-airline-real-time-dynamic-pricing","product-airline-retail","product-airline-revenue-management","product-airline-shopping","type-blog"],"articleSection":["Blog"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":["WebPage","FAQPage"],"@id":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/blog\/modularity-interoperability-defining-future-airline-retailing\/","url":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/blog\/modularity-interoperability-defining-future-airline-retailing\/","name":"Modularity & Interoperability Are Defining the Future of Airline Retailing | AI-powered airline retailing and offer management platform","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/blog\/modularity-interoperability-defining-future-airline-retailing\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/blog\/modularity-interoperability-defining-future-airline-retailing\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ModInterop_Image-6-1.png","datePublished":"2026-05-27T17:17:40+00:00","dateModified":"2026-06-25T16:40:10+00:00","description":"Discover how airlines can achieve modern retailing by leveraging modular systems, proven interoperability, and scalable decision-making to innovate, adapt, and lead in a competitive landscape.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/blog\/modularity-interoperability-defining-future-airline-retailing\/#breadcrumb"},"mainEntity":[{"@id":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/blog\/modularity-interoperability-defining-future-airline-retailing\/#faq-question-1779901919911"},{"@id":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/blog\/modularity-interoperability-defining-future-airline-retailing\/#faq-question-1779901930814"},{"@id":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/blog\/modularity-interoperability-defining-future-airline-retailing\/#faq-question-1779901941551"},{"@id":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/blog\/modularity-interoperability-defining-future-airline-retailing\/#faq-question-1779901952466"},{"@id":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/blog\/modularity-interoperability-defining-future-airline-retailing\/#faq-question-1779901961455"},{"@id":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/blog\/modularity-interoperability-defining-future-airline-retailing\/#faq-question-1779901973189"},{"@id":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/blog\/modularity-interoperability-defining-future-airline-retailing\/#faq-question-1779901985701"}],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/blog\/modularity-interoperability-defining-future-airline-retailing\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/blog\/modularity-interoperability-defining-future-airline-retailing\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ModInterop_Image-6-1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ModInterop_Image-6-1.png","width":870,"height":473},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/blog\/modularity-interoperability-defining-future-airline-retailing\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Resources","item":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Why Modularity and Interoperability Are Defining the Future of Airline Retailing"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/#website","url":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/","name":"PROS Resources Center","description":"AI-powered airline retailing and offer management platform","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/#organization","name":"PROS, Inc.","url":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/social-default.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/social-default.png","width":1200,"height":675,"caption":"PROS, Inc."},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/PROSInc","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/pros.inc\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/pros\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/PROSpricing"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/#\/schema\/person\/c1c8309159a5f15e1354ccd81680e57f","name":"Bhaskara Guntreddy","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Bhaskara-removebg-preview.png","url":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Bhaskara-removebg-preview.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Bhaskara-removebg-preview.png","caption":"Bhaskara Guntreddy"},"description":"Bhaskara Guntreddy is the Senior Vice President Product Management, focusing on delivering industry\u2011first innovations that create measurable value and competitive advantage for airlines at PROS.","url":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/author\/bhaskara-guntreddy\/"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/blog\/modularity-interoperability-defining-future-airline-retailing\/#faq-question-1779901919911","position":1,"url":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/blog\/modularity-interoperability-defining-future-airline-retailing\/#faq-question-1779901919911","name":"What's\u00a0the difference between modularity and interoperability?\u00a0","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Modularity is how systems are structured into independent components, while interoperability is how those components communicate and work together, especially across different vendors.\u00a0","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/blog\/modularity-interoperability-defining-future-airline-retailing\/#faq-question-1779901930814","position":2,"url":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/blog\/modularity-interoperability-defining-future-airline-retailing\/#faq-question-1779901930814","name":"How does\u00a0a monolithic\u00a0IT architecture create a business problem?\u00a0","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Tightly coupled, monolithic systems create IT bottlenecks. This slows down the implementation of pricing and offer changes, which reduces the commercial team's agility and negatively\u00a0impacts\u00a0competitiveness and revenue.\u00a0","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/blog\/modularity-interoperability-defining-future-airline-retailing\/#faq-question-1779901941551","position":3,"url":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/blog\/modularity-interoperability-defining-future-airline-retailing\/#faq-question-1779901941551","name":"Why isn't a platform with APIs always truly interoperable?\u00a0","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"True interoperability is more than just having APIs. Sometimes, incumbent vendors create commercial and operational barriers, like prohibitive integration costs, long implementation timelines, and controlled dependencies, to make\u00a0integrating with\u00a0third-party systems difficult. This creates a controlled ecosystem rather than a genuinely interoperable one.\u00a0","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/blog\/modularity-interoperability-defining-future-airline-retailing\/#faq-question-1779901952466","position":4,"url":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/blog\/modularity-interoperability-defining-future-airline-retailing\/#faq-question-1779901952466","name":"What is co-innovation?\u00a0","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Co-innovation is not building custom software for a single airline.\u00a0It's\u00a0about collaborating with airlines to develop new,\u00a0productized\u00a0capabilities based on real-world needs. This approach ensures new features are relevant, practical, and proven to be scalable in live environments.\u00a0","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/blog\/modularity-interoperability-defining-future-airline-retailing\/#faq-question-1779901961455","position":5,"url":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/blog\/modularity-interoperability-defining-future-airline-retailing\/#faq-question-1779901961455","name":"Why are look-to-book ratios increasing?\u00a0","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Modern airline retailing has transformed a simple \"look\" into a complex, real-time offer construction process. Each customer search can now trigger multiple backend requests involving dynamic pricing and bundling, which significantly increases computational demand. AI-driven searches and metasearch distribution also contribute to higher volumes, even without a change in customer demand.\u00a0","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/blog\/modularity-interoperability-defining-future-airline-retailing\/#faq-question-1779901973189","position":6,"url":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/blog\/modularity-interoperability-defining-future-airline-retailing\/#faq-question-1779901973189","name":"How does airline architecture impact business?\u00a0","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Architecture directly affects an airline's revenue performance by influencing its ability to respond to market changes, price offers\u00a0precisely, and\u00a0execute consistently across channels. It\u00a0impacts\u00a0time to market, integration costs, and the ability to innovate, making modularity and interoperability crucial for commercial viability.\u00a0","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/blog\/modularity-interoperability-defining-future-airline-retailing\/#faq-question-1779901985701","position":7,"url":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/blog\/modularity-interoperability-defining-future-airline-retailing\/#faq-question-1779901985701","name":"Do airlines need to completely\u00a0replatform\u00a0their systems to modernize?\u00a0","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"No. A modular and interoperable architecture allows airlines to modernize incrementally. This phased approach reduces risk, preserves business continuity, and allows carriers to prioritize high-impact capabilities like dynamic pricing before modularizing other functions over time.\u00a0","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9758","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/98"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9758"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9758\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9763"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9758"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9758"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pros.com\/learn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9758"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}