Skift Take
After low-cost carriers, the next big thing that will change the way Indians travel could be rail and bus. And the rides have just begun for online travel companies.
A large part of India travels by bus and rail. And taking advantage of the country’s significant leap in online train ticketing is Ixigo — including its subsidiary ConfirmTkt — which leads the way with nearly 50% market share of India's online travel.
“More Indians use trains for long-distance, intercity, non-commuter travel than they do on planes or buses,” said Aloke Bajpai, co-founder and group CEO of Ixigo.
A recent report from travel consultancy firm Videc revealed that ground transport is the driving force behind India’s online travel market, with the rail and intercity bus categories accounting for 30% of the total market.
The OTA rail market is projected to grow at a 23% annual rate from 2023 to 2026, to $2.2 billion; the intercity bus market is set to increase 21%, to $1.9 billion.
In 2021, Ixigo made two acquisitions in rapid succession — train booking platform Conf