“We view technology not merely as a tool, but as a catalyst—one that connects dreams to destinations,” remarked Rajnish Kumar, Director and Group Co-CEO of ixigo, during an interview with CNBC-TV18.
One of the standout offerings is PLAN, an AI-based itinerary generator that crafts personalised travel plans tailored to individual budgets, locations, and interests.
Kumar noted that it has already generated over 600,000 itineraries since its debut in 2023.
ixigo’s multilingual chatbot, TARA, successfully manages over 91% of customer support inquiries autonomously.
“Approximately 45% of our flight support is now managed entirely by voice-powered AI agents,” Kumar stated.
The platform has also rolled out ‘Price Lock’, allowing users to secure airfare at a fixed rate for a limited time by paying a nominal fee. “This feature helps travellers avoid fare increases while they finalize their plans,” Kumar clarified.
To support train travellers, the ‘Travel Guarantee’ feature offers refunds up to three times on unconfirmed waitlisted tickets. “AI aids us in assessing eligibility and pricing, enabling us to operate this sustainably,” he explained.
For bus reservations, ‘Bus Insights’ provides information about the likely bus assigned to a journey, including its age and model, allowing travellers to make better-informed decisions.
ixigo has also introduced financial flexibility through No Cost EMI and Buy Now Pay Later options for flight and hotel bookings, made possible through partnerships with third-party providers like Simpl and Bajaj Finance.
“This is particularly beneficial for users making last-minute bookings or planning substantial trips,” Kumar mentioned.
Furthermore, the company offers ‘ixigo Credit’, allowing users to secure tickets and defer payment, either in full or via instalments.
“Travellers can divide payments into two or three-month EMIs, frequently at low or zero interest,” Kumar added.
“These features are designed with the understanding that budget limitations should not hinder people from travelling,” he emphasized.
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