Singapore Airlines-backed Scoot will be the first low-cost carrier to have direct-booking functionality on travel search engine Skyscanner.

The agreement is being seen as a significant moment in the brand’s drive to give airlines the ability to leave the booking part of ticketing to a search intermediary, putting it up against online travel agencies.

The integration has come about following a deal signed with fare-filing and reservation platform Navitaire (now owned via a $830 million deal by Amadeus), which Skyscanner says over time could mean it integrates with any carrier using the system.

Such connections will be available to any “NDC-ready supplier”, an official says, alongside other integration methods.

Scoot is the second carrier to switch on the functionality with Skyscanner, following a deal with British Airways in 2015.

In addition to the booking part of the partnership, users will soon also be able to select and secure ancillary products such as baggage and seat-selection.

Director of product at Skyscanner, Filip Filipov, says the direct-booking on metasearch model is good for travellers as well as airlines, with “as little friction as possible” and “the ability to showcase ancillary product options” seen as benefits respectively.

“With our platform’s compatibility with any NDC-ready provider, and the ability to support several other integration types, we intend to remain ahead of the curve in offering our partners industry-leading distribution options.”

Skyscanner claims it has a “strong pipeline” of other carriers due to go live with the tool over the coming months.