What are the most effective distribution channels for regional airlines?

1 Direct channels

Direct channels are the ones where you sell your flights directly to your customers, without any intermediaries. This can include your own website, mobile app, call center, or airport counter. Direct channels give you more control over your pricing, branding, and customer service, as well as lower commissions and fees. However, they also require more investment in technology, marketing, and staff. To optimize your direct channels, you should focus on providing a user-friendly and secure booking experience, offering attractive loyalty programs and incentives, and communicating with your customers through email, SMS, or social media.

3 Hybrid channels

Hybrid channels are the ones that combine elements of direct and indirect channels, such as meta-search engines, branded fares, or code-share agreements. Meta-search engines are websites that aggregate and compare flight offers from different sources, and redirect customers to your website or an OTA to complete the booking. Branded fares are bundles of flight features and services that you offer through OTAs or GDSs, allowing you to differentiate your product and increase your revenue. Code-share agreements are partnerships with other airlines that allow you to sell seats on each other's flights, expanding your network and customer reach. Hybrid channels can help you increase your visibility, flexibility, and value proposition, while maintaining some control over your distribution. To optimize your hybrid channels, you should align them with your business goals and strategies, evaluate their costs and benefits, and collaborate with your partners and intermediaries.

4 Emerging channels

Emerging channels are the ones that leverage new technologies, trends, or opportunities to sell your flights, such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, or social media. AI can help you personalize your offers and services, optimize your pricing and revenue management, and improve your customer service and loyalty. Blockchain can help you create a secure and transparent distribution system, reduce fraud and intermediation costs, and enable new forms of payment and loyalty. Social media can help you engage with your customers, promote your brand and flights, and generate referrals and bookings. Emerging channels can help you innovate, differentiate, and adapt to the changing customer preferences and behaviors. To optimize your emerging channels, you should experiment, learn, and iterate, while keeping an eye on the legal, ethical, and operational implications.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?