Latest news with #ixigo
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
We will continue to grow faster than the competition: ixigo's Aloke Bajpai
The domestic tourism industry has faced significant shifts in recent weeks, particularly after the unfortunate terror attack in Kashmir, which disrupted travel momentum in the region. In an interaction with TNIE's Arshad Khan, Aloke Bajpai, co-founder and Group CEO of ixigo, shares insights on how the incident impacted bookings, evolving traveller preferences and how ixigo's unique growth strategy that allows them to grow faster than peers. Additionally, Bajpai weighs in on rising hotel prices and this season's hottest travel trends. Edited Excerpts: How has the domestic tourism industry changed in the last one month (since the unfortunate attack in Kashmir)? The Pahalgam terror attacks happened at a time when Jammu and Kashmir was seeing a 70% YoY growth in bookings for us in the month of April. The attacks marked a significant blow to the state's tourism momentum and the region's security environment. At ixigo, our first priority was to ensure the safety and well-being of our travellers. The temporary shutdown of 32 airports resulted in a marginal disruption to flight services, with cancellations affecting 5-8% of the total scheduled flights between May 7 and May 12. While there wasn't much impact on the trains business, our bus business actually saw some increase in demand during this time and hence we did not see much impact at an overall level. What has been the impact of Pakistan airspace closure, and a call for boycott against Turkey and Azerbaijan? Traveller sentiment toward these two countries has clearly shifted, and it's showing up in this summer's booking trends. Internationally, bookings & searches to Japan, Korea, Spain, Paris, Italy, and Singapore are up 20–25% year-on-year, reflecting a growing appetite for global travel. Interestingly, Japan and Korea weren't major blips on the radar last summer, but this year they've emerged as trending hotspots—signaling a clear shift in traveller preferences and a growing appetite for culturally rich, long-haul experiences. ixigo is everywhere - from trains, flights and busses to hotels. What is driving ixigo's growth and where does future growth opportunity lie? If you look at our business strategy, we made a conscious decision to focus on what we call the Next Billion Users. In India, trains are by far the most dominant mode of transport. While flights cater to just about 4–4.5% of the population, trains carry around 22 million passengers daily. That's why we didn't follow the typical Western OTA model, which puts flights at the core and builds hotels and other services around them. In India, that model doesn't scale the same way. Instead, we've flipped the template and built around the dominant travel behavior of Indian users—ground transportation first, everything else layered on top. Thanks to this strategy, we've been consistently growing faster than the market. In Q3 alone, we grew our gross transaction value (GTV) by 48%, clocking over ₹4,000 crores in ticket sales. Flights, in fact, were our fastest-growing vertical, with a 73% GTV growth. In the train travel segment, we're already the largest OTA, holding over 58% market share as of Q3. While our train business continues to grow—27% YoY in Q3 alone—the larger growth opportunity for us now lies in flights, buses, and hotels. Compared to our competitors, our growth velocity is significantly higher—nearly 3x in some cases—allowing us to steadily gain market share in these categories as well. Why are high-spending tourists increasingly choosing international destinations over domestic ones? Many travelers have raised concerns about steep hotel rates and high airfare prices in India—how do you view this trend? This trend is primarily visible at the premium end of the market. When we look at five-star properties, there's a clear supply crunch. Some individual cities in Asia—like Bangkok, Shanghai, or Singapore—have more five-star hotel inventory than all of India combined. As a result, occupancy rates remain exceptionally high—often in the high 80s to 90% range—which is quite remarkable. Giving an example of Goa, travellers who once booked four- or five-star hotels there are now comparing those prices with similar or better experiences in Thailand or Vietnam, where they can access high-quality properties at more reasonable rates—say, ₹10,000 per night instead of ₹20,000. So while the upper segment is seeing some deflection due to higher costs and global competition, the core audience—budget travellers spending between ₹4,000 to ₹8,000 per night—continue to flock to Goa. Where are Indians travelling this season? What are the airfare trends this year? We've seen exceptional growth—anywhere between 60% to 180%—in key leisure sectors like Kullu-Manali and Dehradun. Early trends are encouraging—we're hopeful this summer will outperform last year. In 2023, fares jumped sharply—around 15% YoY—because of grounded aircraft and GoAir exiting the market. This year, capacity constraints are easing. IndiGo has brought back many of its grounded planes, and overall availability is improving. If fares remain stable and capacity continues to rise, we should see strong load factors and potentially a very successful summer season. Among international destinations, we are seeing good traction for destinations like Singapore, Maldives, Vietnam, Bali, and Thailand. Maldives, in fact, is seeing a revival, likely aided by the recent improvement in diplomatic relations. Vietnam has truly taken off. It is clearly resonating with Indian travellers. It seems India is going big on spiritual tourism, especially during the Maha Kumbh period. What sort of growth have you seen here? Oh, it's insane. I mean, if I look at Varanasi, Gaya, Shirdi, Haridwar, Puri, Ayodhya, Katra, I can say we are seeing 66% YoY growth on average. If you look at the numbers, Varanasi now receives 4–5 times the footfalls of Goa annually. And what's interesting is that a large portion of this demand is coming from Tier 2 and Tier 3 towns—even from cities as far south as Coimbatore. We're seeing strong interest in what has become a popular spiritual travel circuit that includes Varanasi, Ayodhya, and Prayagraj. The Maha Kumbh has helped reshape this into a broader spiritual triangle that's gaining momentum.
Time of India
29-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Ixigo Food On Train: ixigo's 'Food on Train' Service Surpasses 10,000 Daily Meal Deliveries with Zoop, ET TravelWorld
Advt By , ETTravelWorld Join the community of 2M+ industry professionals Subscribe to our newsletter to get latest insights & analysis. Download ETTravelWorld App Get Realtime updates Save your favourite articles Scan to download App ixigo has achieved a significant milestone in enhancing onboard travel experiences, with its 'Food on Train' service crossing 20 lakh meals delivered since its launch in October 2024. The feature, developed in partnership with e-catering platform Zoop, now averages more than 10,000 daily meal orders across 200 railway stations nationwide. Integrated within the ixigo Trains and ConfirmTkt apps, the service allows passengers to order from a curated selection of meals and have them delivered directly to their platform has recorded notable trends over the past six months. The Veg Maharaja Thali emerged as the most-ordered dish across routes, while buttermilk (chaas) topped the beverage chart. Chicken biryani dominated on the Patna–Delhi route, whereas the Jain Mini Thali was a preferred choice for travellers between Delhi and Mumbai, and Delhi and unusual orders, one of the costliest was worth ₹9,082 at Ahmedabad Junction, placed on the Shri Ganganagar Humsafar Express. Another standout was a bulk order of 43 Veg Mini Thalis at Lucknow Junction, made by a single passenger aboard the Gangasatluj Express. Stations witnessing the highest food order volumes included Vijayawada, Kanpur, Nagpur, Bhopal, and Bajpai, Group CEO, and Rajnish Kumar, Group Co-CEO, ixigo, said, 'With over 10,000 daily meals now being delivered, we are expanding our scope of services for the 54 crore annual users we serve. We're now solving for both travel and food needs of Indian travellers.'Puneet Sharma, Co-Founder & CEO, Zoop, added, 'Thanks to the reach of ixigo and ConfirmTkt, we're now a top-three e-catering partner with IRCTC. We're excited by the diversity in orders and plan to grow further by integrating more restaurants into our platform.'
NDTV
26-05-2025
- NDTV
10 Smart Ways To Beat Holiday Travel Stress
Holiday travel sounds magical — until your flight's delayed, your bag breaks, and you've somehow packed just one shoe. With packed airports, endless traffic, and surprise plan changes, holiday travel stress can sneak in fast. But don't worry: a few smart moves can make all the difference. From booking at the right time to packing like a pro, these 10 practical tips will help you stay calm, organised, and maybe even enjoy the journey. Whether you're flying across the country or taking the train home, here's how to dodge the chaos and make it through the holiday rush with your sanity intact. Here Are 10 Smart Tips To Reduce Holiday Travel Stress: 1. Choose Your Travel Days Wisely The days just before major holidays see peak fares and insane crowds. Try travelling mid-week or on the holiday itself when possible-it's usually less congested. For instance, flying on the morning of 25 December might cost significantly less than the 24th. Bonus: early morning flights (before 9am) are less likely to be delayed, according to data from the Airports Authority of India (AAI). 2. Book Early — Like, Really Early Across India, festive seasons like Diwali, Christmas, Holi, and school summer breaks send travel demand through the roof. If you're flying or taking a train, book at least 6-8 weeks in advance. Train tickets, especially under IRCTC, open 120 days before departure and fill up fast — particularly for popular routes like Delhi to Lucknow or Mumbai to Goa. For flights, use fare tracking apps like ixigo, Google Flights, or Skyscanner to monitor price drops. 3. Use DigiYatra And Airline Apps Skip long queues at the airport by using DigiYatra, a facial recognition-based check-in system now active in major airports like Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Varanasi. It's a game-changer for frequent flyers. Also, download your airline's app for real-time updates, digital boarding passes, and web check-in. 4. Know Your Rights With Indian Airlines Flight delayed or cancelled? Under DGCA rules, if your flight is cancelled or rescheduled within 24 hours of departure, the airline must provide an alternate flight or a full refund. For delays over 6 hours, they must inform you at least 24 hours in advance. If your luggage is lost or damaged, you're also entitled to compensation. Don't let the ground staff brush you off — ask clearly about your rights. 5. Snacks Save Lives Airport food is expensive and often underwhelming (looking at you, INR450 samosa). Carry some light snacks like protein bars, nuts, khakra, or a sandwich from home. And always carry a refillable water bottle — most airports have free filtered water dispensers. 6. Go Carry-On Only (If You Can) Holiday rush means longer baggage queues and more chances of your luggage going MIA. If you're travelling light, stick to a cabin bag under 7 kg and a personal item. Airlines are strict about weight limits — IndiGo and Akasa don't mess around. Use packing cubes, roll your clothes, and carry travel-sized toiletries. And yes, that second pair of shoes probably isn't worth it. 7. Charge Everything And Bring A Power Bank Your phone is your boarding pass, payment method, map, and entertainment source. Make sure it's charged. Carry a power bank under 20,000 mAh (which is allowed in cabin baggage in India) and don't forget your cables. If travelling internationally, get a universal travel adapter. 8. Organise Travel Documents Like A Pro Print out your tickets, hotel bookings, and ID copies. Yes, digital is convenient-but battery dies, WiFi fails, and Murphy's Law loves airports. Use a travel organiser pouch or keep a folder in your carry-on with hard copies. If travelling abroad, carry a few passport-size photos and photocopies of your passport and visa — these come in handy in emergencies. 9. Build A Mini Travel Comfort Kit Delays are almost guaranteed during Indian holidays. A small pouch with tissues, sanitiser, lip balm, earphones, a pen (for immigration forms), a neck pillow, and a sheet mask can make all the difference. You'll thank yourself when your two-hour layover turns into five. 10. Lower Your Expectations — Seriously Indian travel infrastructure is improving, but it's still unpredictable. Trains run late, flights get rescheduled, and traffic to the airport in cities like Bengaluru or Mumbai can feel really intense. Build in buffer time, especially for connecting flights or reaching your destination. And when it inevitably gets hectic, take a deep breath and remember — you're not alone in the madness.
India Today
15-05-2025
- Business
- India Today
Travel sites see spike in Turkey, Azerbaijan cancellations over Pakistan support
Many Indian travellers are cancelling their trips to Turkey and Azerbaijan following growing public anger over these countries' recent support for Pakistan following India's Operation Sindoor after the Pahalgam travel sites like MakeMyTrip, Cleartrip, and ixigo have seen a sharp rise in said bookings for Turkey and Azerbaijan have dropped by 60%, while cancellations have gone up by 250% in the past week. Cleartrip reported a 260% jump in cancellations, reported The Economic website mentioned, 'In solidarity with our nation, we have discontinued all promotions and offers for travel to Azerbaijan and Turkey.' Since May 8, social media have been flooded with boycott messages after Turkey and Azerbaijan backed Pakistan in response to India's Operation Sindoor, launched after the Pahalgam terror also urged Indian travellers to hold off on visiting these places for now. ixigo went even further, stopping all bookings not just for Turkey and Azerbaijan, but also for posted on X, 'In solidarity with our nation, ixigo is suspending flight and hotel bookings for Turkey, Azerbaijan and China. Because when it comes to Bharat, we don't think twice. Jai Hind.' advertisement Meanwhile, EaseMyTrip shared a post on X, "Following the Pahalgam attack and escalating tensions between India & Pakistan, travellers are urged to stay aware. As Turkey and Azerbaijan have shown support for Pakistan, we strongly recommend visiting only if absolutely necessary. Stay informed. Travel responsibly.' Moreover, Indian travel brand, Go Homestays, has ended its partnership with Turkish Airlines, citing the airline's association with a country seen as unfriendly to posted on X, 'We are officially ending our partnership with Turkish Airlines due to their unsupportive stance towards India. Going forward, we will no longer include their flights in our international travel packages. Jai Hind' In recent years, Turkey and Azerbaijan had become popular among Indian tourists, thanks to better flight connections. IndiGo had started direct flights to Istanbul in 2019 and to Baku in 2023, making travel to these places much EaseMyTrip co-founder, Rikant Pittie noted a 22% increase in cancellations for Turkey and a 30% rise for Azerbaijan, adding that travellers are now opting for safer destinations such as Georgia, Serbia, Greece, Thailand, and Watch
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Business Standard
15-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
ixigo share price jumps 8% on posting strong Q4FY25 results; Check details
ixigo share price: Le Travenues Technology, operating as ixigo, stock jumped 8.1 per cent in trade on Thursday, recording a day's high at ₹181.3 per share on BSE. The stock was in demand a day after the company released its Q4 results. At 10:48 AM, ixigo shares pared some gains and were up 4.41 per cent at ₹175.05 per share on the BSE. In comparison, the BSE Sensex was up 0.04 per cent at 81,362.24. The market capitalisation of the company stood at ₹6,828.89 crore. The 52-week high of the stock was at ₹196.45 per share and the 52-week low of the stock was at ₹118.65 per share. ixigo Q4 results After market hours on Wednesday, the tours and travels' company posted its fourth quarter (Q4FY25) numbers. The company's consolidated net profit stood at ₹16.8 crore as compared to ₹7.3 crore which translated to a jump of 128 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y). Its revenue from operation increased 72 per cent to ₹284 crore as compared to ₹165 crore a year ago. According to the filing, the company's Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) stood at ₹30.7 crore in Q4, rising 64 per cent Y-o-Y. The company's Gross Transaction Value (GTV) increased 65 per cent Y-o-Y increase. The company's contribution margin (CM) increased by 69 per cent Y-o-Y, reaching ₹120.9 crore in Q4FY25. ALSO READ | About ixigo Launched in 2007, ixigo (Le Travenues Technology) is a technology company focused on empowering Indian travellers to plan, book and manage their trips across rail, air, buses, and hotels. ixigo assists travellers in making smarter travel decisions by leveraging artificial intelligence. The ixigo, ConfirmTkt, and AbhiBus apps allow travellers to book train tickets, flight tickets, bus tickets, hotels, and cabs, and provide travel utility tools and services developed using in-house proprietary algorithms and crowd-sourced information. With over 48 crore Annual Active Users in Fiscal 2024, ixigo is the leading OTA for Next Billion Users in India.
