AIR File Processing
AIR files are the data files that carry booking information from your travel booking system into Business Central. The transfer happens automatically through the Azure integration platform -- you do not need to move files manually.
Automatic Processing
When a travel agent creates or modifies a booking, the booking system generates an AIR file containing the full booking record. The Azure integration platform continuously monitors for new files and handles the following steps without user intervention:
- Detection -- the platform picks up new AIR files as soon as they are available.
- Validation -- the file is checked for required data such as customer information, fare details, and passenger records.
- Delivery -- the validated data is pushed to Business Central through a secure API connection.
Once delivered, the booking appears as a new record in the AIR Import List with a status of New.
What Requires User Action
The automatic process handles file transfer and initial validation. You will need to step in when:
- Processing imports -- you decide when to convert an import into a sales order (see Processing Bookings into Sales Orders).
- Handling errors -- if a file fails validation or references missing data (such as an unknown vendor), you will see it flagged in the import list or in a queue page.
- Missing vendors -- if a booking references a vendor not yet set up in Business Central, you need to create the vendor record first (see Missing Vendor Queue).
Timing
Files typically arrive in Business Central within minutes of the booking being created. If you do not see an expected booking, check with your administrator to confirm the Azure integration platform is running.