Startup Originals Team
Rapido, known primarily as an on-demand ride-hailing service, is making a bold move: it’s expanding into full travel bookings. With its new features, users can now plan entire journeys, flights, hotels, intercity buses, and trains, all from within the Rapido app. This shift transforms Rapido from a city mobility app into an all-in-one travel companion.
Rapido’s New Travel Capabilities:
Rapido has introduced a dedicated Travel section in its app, enabling users to:
- Search, compare, and book flights and hotels
- Reserve train tickets
- Book intercity bus journeys
The aim is to let travelers manage all segments of a trip seamlessly, without juggling multiple apps.
Strong Partnerships Behind the Push:
To power these travel services, Rapido has partnered with established platforms:
- Goibibo handles the flight and hotel bookings
- ConfirmTkt handles train reservations
- redBus manages the intercity bus bookings
These integrations bring Rapido the backend infrastructure and inventory needed to deliver multi-modal travel services across India.
Promotional Offers to Drive Adoption:
To encourage users to try the new services, Rapido is rolling out attractive offers:
- Up to ₹4,000 off on flights
- 55% discount on hotels
- 20% off on bus tickets
- Waiver of service fees for train bookings via ConfirmTkt
These incentives lower the barrier for users to book long-distance travel through the app.
Why This Expansion Matters:
- From short-haul to long-haul – Rapido can now cater not just to city rides but to full journey planning.
- Convenience boost – Users don’t have to switch between apps to book different legs of a trip.
- Stronger positioning – This move places Rapido in direct competition with full-stack travel apps.
- Reach into smaller towns – The strategy may help Rapido expand its travel presence in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, where integrated travel options are still emerging.
