Air Deccan to sell tickets through post offices

Bangalore, June 29: One can now book air tickets at the neighbourhood post office following a pact between low cost Airliner Air Deccan and India Post.

More than 500 internet enabled post offices in Karnataka will offer the facility.

Speaking after signing the MoU, Air Deccan Executive Chairman Capt Gopinath said over 156,000 post offices across the country offer a great prospect for the Airline to reach people in the smaller cities and towns. India Post's distribution ability was unparalleled compared to any corporate initiatives and this was the reason Air Deccan was partnering with it to sell air tickets., he said ''Key to growth is distribution and India Post can be our best vehicle towards achieving our goal. To begin with post offices in Karnataka, having internet facilities, would offer tickets to air passengers. Once this establishes as a business model we will extend the facilities to other states," he said.

The post offices would act as agents by booking the air tickets and collect the money from passengers. They would cut their commission like any air travel agent and remit the remaining to the airliner, he said.

Capt Gopinath said the unique tie-up was one amongst various innovative distribution channels that the airline operated for dispensing tickets. Air Deccan was the first airline to introduce ticketing at petrol pumps, retail outlets, online kiosks, web outlets, making air tickets easily accessible round the clock, he said.

"India Post, the largest postal network in the world had woven itself into a very fabric of rural India. This tie-up will give us enhanced visibility and trigger the aspirations of the Rural Indian which will reflect in increased number from rural India taking to the skies," he said.

Karnataka Chief Post Master General Meera Datta said post offices offering air tickets was one of the new initiatives taken to make India Post a more profitable venture.

"We have taken up lead finance, e-Post, e-payment, sale of mutual funds and cheque clearances to provide better service to the people and at the same time increase our revenue. India Post with its 1.55 lakh post office in every corner of the country can be a great partner to the corporate world both in public and private sector," she said.

UNI