ixigo's travel verticals fund new investments
Indian travel company ixigo uses train, flight, and bus bookings to fund investments in hotels, AI, and brand building.
Indian online travel company ixigo has established a diversified business model where its mature travel verticals for trains, flights, and buses are funding investments into new areas such as hotels, artificial intelligence, and brand development.
The company, founded in 2007, began as a flight meta-search engine and gradually expanded to include train and bus ticketing. In 2019, ixigo launched its own air ticketing platform, enabling direct bookings and creating new revenue streams through commissions, convenience fees, and value-added services. Acquisitions like ConfirmTkt and AbhiBus have further strengthened its position in the train and bus segments.
ixigo now competes in a crowded online travel market. The company has reported strong financial performance, with gross transaction value (GTV) increasing 19% year-on-year to ₹5,524 crore and revenue from operations rising 13% to ₹357 crore in the first quarter of fiscal year 2027.
The company is reinvesting operating leverage generated by its established businesses into hotel offerings, AI solutions, and brand marketing. ixigo's revenue model relies on various commissions and fees from airlines, bus operators, and hotels. While train bookings are a significant contributor, bus bookings generated the highest contribution margin in the latest quarter.