Skift Take
The Indian aviation market isn't exactly the most healthy business market, and you would expect AirAsia to want to have as wide a distribution network as possible, instead of just working with its JV partner Expedia.
AirAsia’s India JV…will rely on Expedia to push sales. The airline plans to start domestic service from Chennai with three or four Airbus A320s from late this year.
AirAsia runs a JV portal with Expedia and it is an exclusive online distribution channel for the airline. Last week, AirAsia-Expedia’s CEO Kathleen Tan was in Delhi to discuss the development plans and strategies for the portal in India.
Vikram Malhi, country head of Expedia India, said, “Expedia will have exclusive online distribution of AirAsia tickets. The availability of AirAsia tickets on any other online portal is temporary and the contract will expire in June 2013.”
The development has led to a disquiet amongst other Indian portals, which had partnered the Malaysian airline to sell its inventory on India-Kuala Lumpur and India-Bangkok flights.
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