JET Airways has threatened to pull its inventory from leading Indian OTAs if they refuse to abolish a controversial practice that only reveals the carrier’s identity after a customer has purchased a flight ticket to a particular destination.
Recently, OTAs such as MakeMyTrip.com, Yatra.com and Goibibo.com have been found to be offering heavily discounted tickets without revealing the airline’s identity until payment is completed.
Some customers who booked flights operated by Kingfisher Airlines were subsequently left stranded when the beleaguered airline culled its operations.
Nikos Kardassis, CEO, Jet Airways described the ongoing practice as a “scam” and “damaging (to) the market”. The airline has since filed a complaint with India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
Many travel trade members have also expressed discontent about this non-transparent method of selling air tickets.
Rakesh Lamba, director, Prakriti Holidays New Delhi said: “It is of utmost importance for travel consultants to provide transparent and legitimate services to passengers. We do not mask and sell.”
Anju Desai, vice president, HMA Travel Mumbai warned: “Selling tickets below cost may be more damaging than empty seats on flights.”
One of the OTAs, MakeMyTrip.com, has since promised that it will relook the way it displays fares on its portal.
