What is EDIFACT? Electronic Data Interchange for Administration, Commerce and Transport
EDIFACT is the UN/EDIFACT messaging standard that traditional airline and GDS systems use to exchange reservation, availability, pricing and ticketing data in compact, segment-based text messages.
EDIFACT predates XML and JSON. Its messages are built from segments separated by delimiters, with each segment carrying tightly defined data elements. The format is compact and fast, but difficult to read without specifications.
Where you meet EDIFACT
Much of the GDS world still runs on EDIFACT internally, as do many airline-to-airline exchanges such as interline messaging. GDS web services often wrap EDIFACT-derived structures inside SOAP or XML envelopes, so the shape of the old messages shows through modern APIs.
EDIFACT versus NDC
NDC uses XML schemas designed around offers and orders, while EDIFACT channels are built around fares, availability and PNRs. Platforms that sell both usually translate each into a common internal model rather than letting either format leak into the rest of the system.