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Tunia Cherian George

Mumbai , May 27

AS more low-cost carriers enter the market and try to carve out market share for themselves, they are also coming out with new distribution systems to reach their customers.

In an effort to tap its clients in smaller towns and cities in a cost-effective manner, Air Arabia, the UAE's low-cost carrier, is considering franchising its ticket sales.

According to Mr Rohit Ramachandran, Manager for India, franchise ticket sales would be considered in smaller towns such as Nashik, Baroda, Ahmednagar, Ahmedabad, and Nagpur. At present, no airline in the country offered this mode of ticket sales, he said.

He added that the concept could click with businessmen and entrepreneurs in smaller centres, as it would bring in additional income at a small overhead expense. Anybody with a PC and an Internet connection would be able to sell the tickets.

The airline would give them a login and user name to start booking. The trader would have to put up a certain sum of money with the airline to make reservations. Once he or she had sold tickets for that sum of money, he/she would again have to replenish the amount with the airline to continue to make bookings.

The airline now sells tickets through its offices and through a network of travel agents spread out across the country. Individual customers can also book tickets by logging on to the airline's Web site for ticket sales.

According to a travel agent in the city, the franchise mode of ticket sales was quite popular in the Gulf nations. However, he doubted how well the system would work in India.

Air Deccan, Western Union talks: Air Deccan, the domestic low-cost carrier, is also working on widening its distribution network.

According to Ms Vijaya Menon, Head, Corporate Communications, Air Deccan, the airline was in talks with Western Union, the money transfer outfit, to sell tickets through its wide network of branches and franchises. It was also in talks with a supermarket chain in the South for sale of tickets.

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