{
  "id": 1837862,
  "title": "More expensive flights, fewer new passengers: OTAs feel the pinch",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/more-expensive-flights-fewer-new-passengers-otas-feel-the-pinch",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-19T00:30:24.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Live Mint",
    "slug": "live-mint",
    "url": "https://www.livemint.com/news/more-expensive-flights-fewer-new-passengers-otas-feel-the-pinch-11787067020725.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Online travel agencies (OTAs) like MakeMyTrip, Yatra Online, and EaseMyTrip are experiencing a decline in their air ticketing businesses despite passengers spending more on flights. The increase in airfares rather than a rise in passenger numbers is driving ticket sales through these platforms. Abhishek Law, a journalist covering aviation for Mint, highlights that the majority of his work involves translating complex airline terms into simpler language for his readers. He spends his days tracking airline strategies, policy changes, and occasional disruptions that often become stock market stories. When the aviation industry is stable, he broadens his focus to other sectors such as steel. Law's primary goal is to simplify complex business stories so that they are enjoyable and easy to understand.",
  "summary": "India's top online travel agencies like MakeMyTrip, Yatra and EaseMyTrip, are seeing air-ticketing revenue growth lag rising ticket prices, as passenger volumes stay flat and airlines push direct bookings.",
  "key_points": [
    "Online travel agencies see decline in air ticketing despite higher passenger spending.",
    "Increase in airfares, not passenger numbers, driving ticket sales through OTAs.",
    "Journalist Abhishek Law simplifies complex airline stories for readers."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}