Navan aims to strengthen its European offering. The business travel and expense management platform has announced new integrations with ITA Airways, Virtuo, and Caledonian Sleeper. The objective behind this series of partnerships is clear: to offer companies more local content, accessible directly from a single application.
For business travel professionals, this announcement is significant. It confirms that the battle in business travel is no longer fought solely on price or booking tools, but on the ability of platforms to connect air, rail, car travel and expense management within a single environment.
Summary
Navan strengthens its European offering
In its press release, Navan explains that it is seeing positive momentum in Europe, with bookings up year-on-year to and from the continent. To support this growth, the company is adding three elements to its offering: a direct NDC connection with ITA Airways, the integration of Caledonian Sleeper cabins, and access to Virtuo car reservations.
This strategy addresses a growing need within companies. Travel managers want to centralize travel, improve cost tracking, and reduce friction for employees. According to the trade press, the business travel platforms gaining ground are those that successfully combine rich content, automation, and a mobile experience.
Michael Riegel, Chief Customer Officer at Navan, summarizes this approach: “We are seeing strong momentum across Europe, with bookings increasing year on year to and from the continent. To meet the real needs of the European market, it is essential to invest locally on an ongoing basis.”
He adds: “By integrating ITA’s NDC connection, Virtuo’s offering, and Caledonian Sleeper’s cabins in Navan, we ensure that European businesses have all the travel options they need, accessible directly from our easy-to-use app.”
ITA Airways becomes an important lever for Navan
The most strategic partnership involves ITA Airways. Navan announces a direct connection with the Italian national airline via NDC technology, developed on API version 24.1.
For businesses, the stated benefit is twofold. First, this connection should provide access to certain fares and promotions not available on traditional platforms, notably ITA Airways' Light and Business fares offered through the NDC channel. Second, Navan highlights improved after-sales management, with processes designed to facilitate itinerary changes and refunds.
The wording should remain cautious: these advantages are presented by Navan in its press release. But for travel managers, the issue is very real. Direct access to airline content and the quality of after-sales service are becoming major criteria in choosing a business travel platform.
The night train is part of the business travel route
Navan also integrates Caledonian Sleeper, the night train service connecting London to several Scottish destinations. Platform users will be able to book sleeper cabins directly within the Navan environment.
This integration comes at a time when companies are seeking to better balance comfort, productivity, costs, and environmental policy. Night trains can meet some of these expectations for certain journeys, particularly when they allow travelers to avoid a hotel night or a short flight.
Steven Marshall, Head of Sales & Marketing at Caledonian Sleeper, says: "Thanks to this new integration, the productivity, employee well-being and ecological benefits of choosing Caledonian Sleeper for business travel are now accessible with a single click."
He also specifies: "Our private rooms, some with their own bathroom, are now available on Navan. It's the ideal option for a relaxing night between Scotland and London, with complete simplicity."
Virtuo brings counterless car rental
The third partnership involves Virtuo. The integration allows Navan users to book a car in France and the UK, then access the vehicle remotely via the Virtuo mobile app.
The process highlighted relies on digital identity verification, 24/7 mobile access to the vehicle, and an automated vehicle inspection powered by artificial intelligence. The desired benefit is simple: to avoid going to the counter and reduce the time wasted when picking up the vehicle.
Marie Muller, CEO of Virtuo, explains: "Our 100% digital and exclusively mobile approach was designed to completely avoid the traditional visit to the rental counter."
She adds: "This partnership with Navan allows us to offer a seamless experience for business travelers, so our clients can hit the road without wasting a minute."
What this offensive says about the European market
With ITA Airways, Caledonian Sleeper, and Virtuo, Navan is strengthening three key segments of business travel: air, rail, and ground mobility. This isn't simply an addition of partners; it's a way of demonstrating the platform's commitment to meeting more real needs in European markets.
This announcement comes in addition to other recent expansions mentioned by Navan, including the Swedish rail network, the NDC connection with SAS, and Deutsche Bahn's bahn.business program. The logic is consistent: to develop more localized content that can be more directly integrated into corporate travel policies.
For specialist agencies, TMCs, airlines, and mobility providers, the message is clear. Business travel platforms are seeking to become single points of entry, capable of managing travel, employee experience, and expenses.
Why travel managers should pay close attention to this announcement
The issue is not just technological. For a company, the value of a business travel platform is increasingly measured by its ability to reduce everyday irritants: access to good fares, simple changes, faster refunds, multimodal booking, expense control and a seamless experience for employees.
The integration of ITA Airways can enhance access to air travel in Italy. Caledonian Sleeper adds a relevant rail option between London and Scotland. Virtuo addresses a very real need: car rental without wasting time at the counter.
For Navan, this combination strengthens its European positioning. For the market, it serves as a reminder that the next stage of business travel will not only be digital. It will be integrated, local, and much more mobile.
This acceleration puts pressure on business travel players
Navan sends a fairly direct message to its competitors: Europe is not won with a generic offering. It is won with local content, direct connections, partners adapted to the uses of each market, and an experience capable of following the traveler from the first click to the expense report.
For tourism professionals, the stakes are therefore strategic. Suppliers who manage to integrate into these platforms can gain visibility with businesses. Those who remain difficult to connect risk, in the long run, losing some access to business travelers.
With ITA Airways, Virtuo, and Caledonian Sleeper, Navan is not simply signing three partnerships. The platform demonstrates how European business travel is being reshaped around data, automation, and seamless customer journeys.
Editorial update
This article is based on Navan's press release published in June 2026 and verified with publicly available information about the company, its partners, and its stock market status. The operating benefits of the integrations are presented as announcements by Navan and its partners, and not as results already measured in the market.
Sources
https://www.ita-airways.com/en_gb/fly-ita/ita-airways-world/business-travel.html
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