Skyscanner is expanding into offering airport transfer bookings and cost comparisons in a deal with minicabit.
Skyscanner expands into airport transfers with minicabit deal
Skyscanner is expanding into offering airport transfer bookings and cost comparisons in a deal with minicabit.
Minicabit’s taxi comparison technology will be integrated with Skyscanner’s website via a new partner API.
This can be accessed via an airport transfer tab and cross-sell panels on flight searches.
Skyscanner users will gain access to minicabit’s flash-sales pricing model which provides customers with up to 30% discounts on usual fares for a given time period.
Minicabit’s revenues are now running into double digit millions annually, achieving 265% uplift in new customer bookings compared to this time last year.
The company says it is on track to hit a goal of £100 million in annual UK revenues by 2020.
The increased revenues are being supported by 40 partnerships ranging from The O2 Arena to Heathrow airport.
The average rate of a cab trip to and from UK airports on minicabit has reduced by 20% as the number of fleets its technology compares has doubled from 400 to 800 cab fleets, one in eight of the UK’s private hire firms, the company claims.
The firm completed a £1.5 million fundraising round last November, led by high-profile investors at Hambro Perks and Oakley Capital, and a few months later secured further investment from KKR UK buyout boss Dominic Murphy and former chairman of Candover Partners Marek Gumienny.
The firm was founded by Amer Hasan, ex-global head of apps and internet partnerships at Vodafone and the board includes leading business figures such as former transport minister Steve Norris.
Head of partnerships, Carl Cromie, said: “Our new ‘partner API’ empowers forward thinking travel brands like Skyscanner to easily offer the best quotes from the widest choice of cab fleets around the UK.
“Now, on their website, mobile site or app, a travel platform can plug our UK wide network of over 800 regular and executive cab fleets into its booking flow to now support the first and last mile of their customers’ entire travel experience.
“In addition, the cab trip can finally be digitally packaged with flights, hotels and other travel products, which will no doubt produce many compelling use cases.”
Paul Cumins, car hire senior business development at Skyscanner, added: “We are always looking for ways to improve our customers’ experience and by collaborating with minicabit, we can now offer our customers, in addition to the best flights, hotels and car hire, the ability to search for and book the most convenient and affordable cabs to and from airports UK-wide.”
