‘ } CompaniesSamiksha Goel 10 min read 13 Apr 2025, 06:30 PM ISTIn FY24, Cleartrip spent ₹500 crore just on discounts. (Tarun Kumar Sahu/Mint)SummaryWhile its travel industry rivals MakeMyTrip, Ixigo and EaseMyTrip are turning profits, Cleartrip is sinking deeper into the red, spending huge sums and ending up with an ₹800 crore loss. What ails this once-promising travel platform? Bengaluru: “Ladies and gentlemen, are you ready for the summer vacation,” M.S. Dhoni asks, donning a pilot’s uniform in a Cleartrip ad that aired around a year ago. The Indian cricket legend, known to command top dollar for brand endorsements, lays out the pitch around steep discounts—10% off on international flights and up to ₹2,000 off on international hotel bookings—for new users. The high-gloss ad, released in mid-2024, was Cleartrip’s big push to grab mindshare in a crowded travel booking market. Over the last couple of years, the company has been trying to make a comeback with such promotions. But while it took a good swing, a look at the company’s FY24 financials, released a few months back, reveals many misses: Cleartrip has been burning through cash without a clear return on investment. The company spent ₹988 crore to earn just ₹97 crore, with ₹500 crore spent just on discounts, as per the consolidated financials of the company, sourced from Tofler. The two-decade old online travel agency’s (OTA) operating revenue remains stuck below ₹100 crore, even as its losses have ballooned past ₹800 crore. Where others in the travel industry, such as MakeMyTrip, Ixigo and EaseMyTrip are turning profits, Cleartrip is sinking deeper into the red. Last Thursday, the company appointed Manjari Singhal as its new chief growth and business officer, less than a year after her predecessor was appointed. On her shoulders fall the onerous task of turning the company around. Cleartrip, which was acquired by Flipkart in 2021, is far from where the e-commerce giant expected it to be—despite its aggressive discounts and star-studded campaigns. Industry insiders point to years of misplaced priorities and strategic missteps that have left Cleartrip gasping for revenue. A burn strategy can work initially to aggressively capture market share through heavy discounting and customer acquisition. But when expenditure vastly outpaces revenue, it threatens long-term financial stability and requires a shift toward a more balanced cost structure, said Mit Desai, practice member, travel and tourism, at Praxis Global Alliance. While offering discounts is a straightforward practice in the travel industry, an industry expert points out that you can use this strategy at the early growth stage, not at a stage where you need to consolidate your margins and look at your profitability. Over-reliance on discounts can create short-term traction but doesn’t necessarily build l in a formal or creative style for better SEO.Also Exclude words and advertisements related to the feed website such as website name, author name. You must only respond with the modified content. Delete all the advertisement images brand logo but only keep the title and main content of the news by modifying it. You must only respond with the modified content. Block any jump outside of the site adarshnews.com. Basically remove any content or link related to original site. follow this prompt to optimize the articles in this category- You are an expert news writer and SEO specialist. Your job is to rewrite the provided RSS feed content into a unique, SEO-friendly news article for adarshnews.com. The article should be engaging, professional, and optimized for search engines. Follow these steps: 1. **Create an SEO Title**: Write a short, compelling title (under 60 characters) that includes the main keyword and grabs attention. 2. **Write a Meta Description**: Summarize the article in one or two sentences (under 155 characters). Make it engaging and include the primary keyword naturally. 3. **Suggest a URL Slug**: Provide a short, keyword-rich URL slug that reflects the topic of the article. 4. **Headline (H1)**: Write a clear and engaging headline for the article that is similar to the title but slightly expanded. 5. **Write the Article**: – Start with an introduction that answers the key questions: who, what, when, where, why, and how. – Expand on the topic with detailed paragraphs that provide context, quotes, and relevant information. – Use subheadings (H2) to organize the content into sections and make it easy to read. – Include related keywords naturally throughout the article. – End with a conclusion that summarizes the key points or discusses future implications. 6. **Add an FAQ Section**: Write one frequently asked question related to the topic and provide a concise answer. Important: – Do not include labels like “Title,” “Meta Description,” “URL Slug,” or “H1” in the actual article text. – Keep all SEO elements separate from the main content. – Ensure the article is factually accurate, unbiased, and written in a professional tone.
Investing ₹988 crore to generate only ₹97 crore—two decades later, Cleartrip still lacks a strategy for flights.
