Newstrack

Deccan launches SMS booking with Oxigen

Gayatri Vijaykumar - Bangalore

Deccan, in partnership with the telecom service provider Oxigen, has announced its m-fly initiative which allows customers to book Deccan tickets via SMS. This comes as a result of Deccan wanting to tap the 200 million mobile phone user market, which currently occupies approximately 20 per cent of the population. This facility would be available to both GSM and CDMA mobile handset users, across both prepaid and postpaid connections. "We are not against travel agents; we just want to create a new distribution model which would provide access to the interiors too," said Captain Gopinath, executive chairman - Deccan Aviation.

According to Captain Gopinath, the service can be availed of by means of cash payment at any of the 35,000 Oxigen outlets across the country, thereby eliminating the need for debit or credit cards. The process requires the passenger to register either on the Deccan website or by calling the Deccan call center. Post registration, the passenger will receive a four digit password via SMS. The passenger can then recharge or top up at any of the Oxigen outlets.

Pramod Saxena, chairman and managing director, Oxigen said that the service is being supported by an exclusive tie up with Deccan as of now. Currently, Oxigen has a presence in all district headquarters in the state. A fee of Rs 50 will be charged for using the service. As of now, Deccan has seven thousand distribution channels, that include grocery stores, HPCL petrol pumps, Reliance Webworld outlets, travel agents, and the internet, among others. Gopinath also mentioned that approximately 40 percent of their bookings come from the internet, while 35 percent come from the travel agents, 10 percent from retail outlets and petrol pumps, and 10 percent from airports.