Case Study Challenges of Online Travel Agents
Case Study Challenges of Online Travel Agents
Case Study Challenges of Online Travel Agents
In view of the above challenges, the online travel agents are still bleeding with losses or many
of them are toying hard to reach the breakeven point. In one hand, the users of online purchase of travel
services and solutions are becoming more and the dependence is also becoming more. Can these
challenges be overcome? How long it will take?
Questions
1. What are the critical features of an online travel agent?
2. Why there is an increase in number of market share of online travel agents?
3. Why the online travel agents are bleeding with losses?
4. What are the challenges before the online travel agents?
5. Can the challenges be overcome? Suggest your ideas to handle the challenges
CASE STUDY
Zero Commission and Diversification of Revenue generation
Traditionally, travel agents used to depend largely on the ticket sales for the bulk of share of
total revenue. With airlines selling tickets directly to travellers through multiple e-ticketing platforms,
travel agents do not have any choice and they are out from their dominant business haven. This direct
sales method is a global trend resulting from the need for airlines to maximize revenues or minimize
loss while keeping costs down. As such majority of airlines are facing the challenge of breakeven and
other issues leading to the closure of the companies. For example, Kingfisher airlines shut down the
services abruptly in 2011 due to the heavy losses. International and domestic airlines used to offer 8
and 5 per cent commission on a ticket sold to travel agents respectively. However, it was gradually
reduced to one percent and it is now zero percent due to overheads cost. It is observed that several
airline sites even offer reduced costs and extra incentives for customers ordering tickets online.
Zero percent commission and ticket booking through website is one of the 47 recommendations
of Prof. Dholakia Committee Report on the cost cutting in Air India. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has
accepted all these recommendations. The Zero Commission policy on ticket sales adopted by almost all
airlines has forced the travel agencies to switch over to the new streams of revenue along with new
services.
To reduce their reliance on airline commission payments, travel agencies are resorting to the
following strategic options to sustain and survive in the business.
Streamlining operations and controlling staff costs whilst ensuring the customer feels as little
impact as possible
Expanding or moving into the leisure business where commissions on non-air products remain
high (cruise & hotel)
Specializing in geographic areas or becoming niche players for specific leisure products (e.g.
destination weddings, student travel, group travel & cruises only)
Establishing a service fee driven business model