A dynamic packaging solution designed specifically for low cost carriers has been developed.

The AirlineDP solution from technology company GOQuo can help airlines raise non-flight revenues by offering customers the opportunity to book travel add-ons such as hotels, car hire, insurance and tours when they book flights online.

GOQuo founder and managing director Ron Ramanan said a reliance on links to external suppliers' websites is a major business and customer service issue for budget airlines offering non-flight products.  

He said: "Travellers today expect an easy-to-use, fast and secure booking experience with as much as possible available on the one site." 



Ramanan added: "Passengers who book flights on an airline's website and then want to book a hotel or rental car are usually transferred away from the airline's core site to the supplier's website.

"They have to expend more time and more clicks to interrogate the supplier's inventory database, make a choice and then book, and then get a totally separate confirmation.

"Anecdotal evidence suggests they often get frustrated and abandon the booking process, which means a lost sale, lost revenue and some lost credibility for the airline."

Ramanan claimed that the technology can help airlines earn better margins from non-flight product bookings by actively promoting discounts, while intelligent software for applying business rules helps control mark up in real time according to popularity and availability.

"The airline can offer inventory from its own preferred suppliers, from the many accommodation, car hire and tour suppliers available through GOQuo, or from a combination of both," he added. "

"If someone is only booking a flight, AirlineDP can automatically provide sales prompts for other products, all without the customer leaving the airline site."

by Phil Davies