Tapping into the business travel needs of Indian SME owners and executives and a growing corporate portfolio of the airline over the past two and a half years, Akasa said it will offer access to specially curated corporate fares, value add-ons along with Saver and Flexi fares.
According to a Deloitte survey last year, India’s corporate travel sector is expected to grow to $20.8 billion by FY30, up from $10.6 billion. (Source: reuters)
Budget carrier Akasa Air on Thursday launched a dedicated corporate booking platform for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with access to corporate fare benefits on both domestic and international flights. Tapping into the business travel needs of Indian SME owners and executives and a growing corporate portfolio of the airline over the past two and a half years, Akasa said it will offer access to specially curated corporate fares, value add-ons along with Saver and Flexi fares.
SMEs flying Akasa and registering on their platform will get a discount on corporate fares, complimentary standard seat with snack and beverage on every flight, up to 50 per cent discount on premium seating, early boarding, and priority check-in, no cancellation or change fees up to one hour prior to departure.
Also read: Why India’s MSME Framework Needs a Ground-Up Redesign
On international travel, SMEs will be levied nil cancellation charges (up to 4 hours before departure), and 30 kg baggage allowance on key international routes.
“By enabling SMEs to optimise their travel expenditures and operate with the same agility as larger enterprises, we not only aim to streamline corporate travel but also bolster regional commerce by strengthening the backbone of India’s economy — its SMEs and emerging enterprises,” said Praveen Iyer, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer, Akasa Air.
Akasa’s dedicated offering for SMEs follows older rivals such as Indigo, SpiceJet, and Air India, which have travel programmes focusing on SMEs. For instance, Indigo runs 6E SME offering discounted seat, lower change fee and cancellation fee, detailed MIS to track travel spends, 20 per cent discount on pre-book meals, and up to 30 per cent discount on Fast Forward.
Likewise, SpiceJet under its SME High Flyer Programme provides discounted fares, zero convenience fee, unlimited changes at reduced fees, and more. Air India too, under its AI BIZ solution, offers similar services to SMEs.
Focus on SMEs, which contribute around 30 per cent to India’s gross domestic product (GDP), assumes significance with growing corporate travel. According to a Deloitte survey last year, India’s corporate travel sector is expected to grow to $20.8 billion by FY30, up from $10.6 billion. The overall travel market in India is likely to become worth $97 billion, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 9 per cent.
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