B2B Travel Portal Setup Full Tutorial
A B2B Travel Portal is a website where sub-agents or travel agents can log in and book flights, hotels, buses, and tour packages. Large companies like MakeMyTrip, Travelport, and Amadeus IT Group provide technology used by many portals.
These portals are commonly used by agencies working with systems like Amadeus Global Distribution System.
1. What is a B2B Travel Portal?
A B2B portal (Business-to-Business) allows travel agencies to:
✔ Book airline tickets
✔ Reserve hotels
✔ Sell tour packages
✔ Manage agent commissions
✔ Track bookings and payments
Unlike B2C websites, only registered agents can access the portal.
2. Features of a B2B Travel Portal
A professional B2B portal includes these modules.
Agent Dashboard
-
Agent login panel
-
Wallet balance
-
Booking reports
Booking Systems
-
Flight booking
-
Hotel booking
-
Bus booking
-
Holiday packages
Financial System
-
Agent wallet
-
Commission management
-
Invoice generation
3. Requirements to Start a B2B Portal
Before building the portal you need:
1. Travel Business Registration
Register your company legally in your country.
2. Travel API Suppliers
Travel portals work by connecting to API providers.
Popular suppliers include:
-
Amadeus IT Group (Flights)
-
Sabre Corporation
-
Travelport
These APIs provide:
-
Flight availability
-
Pricing
-
Ticket booking
4. Buy a Domain and Hosting
First create your website.
Example:
www.yourtravelportal.com
You will need:
✔ Domain name
✔ VPS or cloud hosting
✔ SSL security certificate
Good hosting providers include:
-
Amazon Web Services
-
DigitalOcean
5. Develop the B2B Portal Website
You need a developer or travel portal software.
Development technologies
Common technologies:
-
PHP
-
Laravel
-
Node.js
-
React
Main pages include:
-
Agent login page
-
Booking search page
-
Booking confirmation page
-
Admin panel
6. Integrate Flight Booking API
The most important feature is flight API integration.
Flight data comes from GDS systems like:
-
Amadeus Global Distribution System
-
Sabre Global Distribution System
-
Travelport Galileo
API integration allows the portal to:
✔ Search flights
✔ Display fares
✔ Book seats
✔ Issue tickets
7. Add Hotel Booking API
To sell hotels, connect hotel suppliers.
Popular hotel APIs:
-
Expedia Group
-
Booking Holdings
These APIs provide:
-
Hotel availability
-
Room prices
-
Instant booking
8. Create Agent Wallet System
B2B portals usually use a wallet system.
Agents must deposit money before booking tickets.
Example:
Agent wallet balance = ₹50,000
If a ticket costs ₹12,000:
Wallet after booking = ₹38,000
9. Commission System
You can set commission for agents.
Example:
| Service | Commission |
|---|---|
| Flights | ₹200 |
| Hotels | 5% |
| Tour packages | 10% |
The system automatically calculates agent profit.
10. Admin Panel Setup
The Admin Panel controls the portal.
Admin features:
✔ Add agents
✔ Set commissions
✔ Manage bookings
✔ View financial reports
✔ API settings
11. Payment Gateway Integration
Agents need to add money to their wallet.
Add payment gateways like:
-
Razorpay
-
PayPal
-
Stripe
These allow online wallet recharge.
12. Connect BSP for Airline Ticket Settlement
If you have airline accreditation through International Air Transport Association, your portal can connect with BSP settlement systems.
This ensures airline ticket payments are properly reported.
13. Testing the Portal
Before launching, test the system.
Check:
✔ Flight search results
✔ Booking confirmation
✔ Payment processing
✔ Agent wallet deduction
✔ Ticket generation
14. Launch the B2B Travel Portal
After testing:
-
Launch the website
-
Add travel agents
-
Provide login credentials
-
Start accepting bookings
15. How B2B Travel Portals Make Money
Travel portal owners earn from:
✔ Service fees
✔ Agent commissions
✔ API markup
✔ Tour package margins
Example:
Flight price = ₹20,000
Portal markup = ₹500
Agent pays = ₹20,500
16. Estimated Cost to Build a B2B Travel Portal
Approximate cost:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Portal development | $2000 – $8000 |
| API integration | $1000 – $3000 |
| Hosting | $20 – $100/month |
| Payment gateway | Transaction fees |
Total startup cost: $3000 – $10,000
How to Get Flight API for Your Travel Portal
A Flight API (Application Programming Interface) allows your travel portal to connect directly with airline booking systems and display real-time flight availability, fares, and booking options.
Most travel portals integrate APIs from Global Distribution Systems (GDS) such as:
-
Amadeus Global Distribution System
-
Sabre Global Distribution System
-
Travelport Galileo
These systems connect with airlines like Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Air India.
1. Register Your Travel Business
Before applying for a flight API, you must have a registered travel agency or company.
Common requirements:
✔ Business registration
✔ Travel agency license
✔ Business bank account
✔ Company website
Some providers may also ask for IATA accreditation from the International Air Transport Association, but this is not always mandatory.
2. Choose a Flight API Provider
There are two main ways to get a flight API.
Option 1: Direct GDS API
You can connect directly with global reservation systems.
Main providers:
-
Amadeus IT Group
-
Sabre Corporation
-
Travelport
These APIs provide:
-
Flight search
-
Fare pricing
-
Booking creation
-
Ticket issuance
However, direct GDS access usually requires high volume or industry experience.
Option 2: Flight API Aggregators
If you are a small travel agency, you can use API suppliers who already connect with GDS systems.
Examples include:
-
Duffel
-
Kiwi.com
-
TravelFusion
Advantages:
✔ Easier approval
✔ Faster integration
✔ Lower startup cost
3. Apply for API Access
Once you choose a provider, you must submit an application.
Typical application process:
-
Submit company details
-
Provide website information
-
Explain your business model
-
Sign API agreement
The provider reviews your application before granting access.
4. Receive API Credentials
After approval, the provider will give you API credentials.
Example:
API Key
Client ID
Secret Key
These credentials allow your website to securely communicate with the flight booking system.
5. Integrate API into Your Travel Portal
Your developer will connect the API to your portal.
Typical integration includes:
Flight Search
User enters:
-
Departure city
-
Destination city
-
Travel date
Example route:
Bengaluru → Dubai
The API returns:
-
Available flights
-
Airlines
-
Ticket prices
Booking System
After selecting a flight, the API enables:
✔ Passenger details submission
✔ Booking confirmation
✔ Ticket generation
6. Add Markup or Commission
Travel portals usually add markup to flight prices.
Example:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Flight price from API | ₹20,000 |
| Portal markup | ₹500 |
| Customer price | ₹20,500 |
This markup becomes your profit.
7. Connect Ticketing System
If you have IATA accreditation from the International Air Transport Association, you can issue tickets directly.
Otherwise, you must use:
-
Airline consolidators
-
Host travel agencies
These partners issue tickets on your behalf.
8. Test the Flight API
Before launching your portal, run tests.
Test scenarios:
✔ Flight search results
✔ Booking creation
✔ Payment processing
✔ Ticket generation
✔ Cancellation and refund
Most API providers offer a sandbox environment for testing.
9. Launch Your Travel Portal
Once testing is complete:
-
Activate production API
-
Enable real bookings
-
Start selling airline tickets
Your portal can now serve customers or travel agents.
10. Estimated Cost of Flight API Integration
Costs vary depending on provider.
Typical expenses:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| API setup fee | $0 – $2000 |
| Development cost | $1000 – $5000 |
| Hosting | $20 – $100/month |
| Transaction fee | Per booking |
Some providers charge per booking commission instead of setup fees.
Step-by-Step Flight API Integration Example (Developer Tutorial)
Integrating a flight API allows your website or travel portal to search flights, display prices, and create bookings in real time through airline systems connected to Amadeus Global Distribution System.
Typical travel portals use APIs from providers like:
Amadeus IT Group
Sabre Corporation
Travelport
This tutorial demonstrates how developers integrate the Amadeus Flight API.
1. Create an Amadeus Developer Account
First, register on the Amadeus developer portal.
Steps:
Go to the developer portal of Amadeus IT Group
Create a free account
Create a new application
Receive API credentials
You will get:
API Key
API Secret
These are required to authenticate your requests.
2. Get Access Token
Amadeus APIs use OAuth authentication.
Example request:
POST https://test.api.amadeus.com/v1/security/oauth2/token
Example code (Python):
import requests
url = "https://test.api.amadeus.com/v1/security/oauth2/token"
payload = {
"grant_type": "client_credentials",
"client_id": "YOUR_API_KEY",
"client_secret": "YOUR_API_SECRET"
}
response = requests.post(url, data=payload)
print(response.json())
Response:
{
"access_token": "TOKEN_HERE",
"expires_in": 1799
}
This token allows your portal to make API requests.
3. Search Flights
Now your portal can search flights.
Example API request:
GET /v2/shopping/flight-offers
Example Python code:
import requests
url = "https://test.api.amadeus.com/v2/shopping/flight-offers"
params = {
"originLocationCode": "DEL",
"destinationLocationCode": "DXB",
"departureDate": "2026-05-20",
"adults": 1
}
headers = {
"Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN"
}
response = requests.get(url, headers=headers, params=params)
print(response.json())
Example route:
New Delhi → Dubai
API returns:
Airlines
Flight numbers
Departure time
Ticket price
4. Display Flights on Your Website
The backend sends API results to your frontend.
Example display format:
| Airline | Departure | Arrival | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emirates | 10:00 | 12:30 | $320 |
| Qatar Airways | 11:15 | 14:00 | $340 |
Frontend technologies often used:
React
Angular
Vue.js
5. Create Flight Booking
After a user selects a flight, your portal sends a booking request.
API endpoint:
POST /v1/booking/flight-orders
Example request:
{
"data": {
"type": "flight-order",
"flightOffers": [...],
"travelers": [
{
"id": "1",
"name": {
"firstName": "John",
"lastName": "Smith"
}
}
]
}
}
The API creates a PNR (Passenger Name Record) in the system.
6. Payment Integration
Before ticket issuance, your portal must process payment.
Common payment gateways include:
Stripe
PayPal
Razorpay
Steps:
User selects flight
User enters passenger details
User pays online
Booking confirmation sent
7. Ticket Issuance
Tickets are issued through airline systems connected to International Air Transport Association networks.
If your agency is not IATA accredited:
Use a consolidator
Use host agency ticketing
The system generates an E-ticket number.
Example:
ETKT: 176-1234567890
8. Manage Booking (Optional APIs)
Travel portals often integrate extra APIs.
Examples:
Seat selection
SeatMap API
Flight status
Example airline:
Lufthansa
Cancel or refund ticket
Flight Order Cancel API
9. Move from Sandbox to Production
Most APIs have two environments.
Sandbox (Testing)
https://test.api.amadeus.com
Production (Live bookings)
https://api.amadeus.com
Before launching:
✔ Test search
✔ Test booking
✔ Test payments
✔ Test cancellation
10. Typical Travel Portal Architecture
A professional travel portal usually looks like this:
User Website
↓
Frontend (React / HTML)
↓
Backend Server (Node.js / Python / PHP)
↓
Flight API (Amadeus / Sabre)
↓
Airline Systems
Final Result
After integration, your portal can:
✈ Search flights
💳 Accept payments
🎫 Issue airline tickets
📩 Send booking confirmations
All in real time.









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