As India cements its position as one of the world’s most closely watched aviation and travel markets, representation and distribution companies are being pushed to evolve beyond scale alone. Airlines today are looking for partners who can deliver quality revenue, faster market entry and meaningful trade access — redefining how the business is being built on the ground.
In this interview, Salil Nath, Founder & CEO, Travesla, outlines the company’s priorities for 2026, spanning airline portfolio expansion, technology-led distribution, ancillary growth and execution in complex markets.
What will Travesla’s top business priorities and expansion goals be for 2026?
This is about expanding our airline portfolio and deepening our role as a revenue-growth partner, not just a distributor. We want airlines to come to Travesla because we can clearly demonstrate higher quality of revenue, better market access, and faster ramp-up. On the agency side, most of our top-producing partners are already on board with our ancillary offerings. 2026 will focus on onboarding the remaining high-potential agents and then scaling into the next tier of the trade.
We are also rapidly expanding our team across commercial and operational functions. With a growing roster of airline partners and a scaling ancillary business, we require the talent and bandwidth necessary to deliver best-in-class distribution and execution for every client. Investment in our people is crucial to maintaining the quality and responsiveness expected by our partners.
Another major focus is growing the revenue portfolio of Hahnair in the Indian market. We have already started demonstrating tangible value through market insights and strategic inputs, and the response has been very encouraging. In 2026, we are looking to take Hahnair to significantly greater heights with the addition of Southwest Airlines to their portfolio. This presents a strong opportunity for our agency network, and we intend to maximise it.
Beyond that, we will add new ancillary categories such as e-SIM and student accommodation to better meet emerging traveller needs. Overall, the strategy is clear: more airlines, deeper distribution, stronger teams and a sharper product mix — all driving profitability for our partners.
How do you plan to strengthen your tech platform and partner network next year?
A major thrust for 2026 is to make Travesla far easier to do business with through technology. Several initiatives that have been quietly in development will go live next year, aimed at scaling distribution for both airline and ancillary products.
For the trade, this will mean a more intuitive platform where agents can access richer content, pricing and ancillary options in a single view — whether they are large consolidators or mid-sized agencies.
We will also extend white-label and API connectivity for key ancillary products to selected partners. This will eliminate manual data sharing and offline fulfilment processes, reduce errors and speed up turnaround times. Seamless integration into OTAs, corporate tools or mid-office systems is where our approach of high-touch relationships combined with high-tech execution comes together.
Which travel categories or geographies will drive your biggest opportunities in 2026?
On the airline side, our focus will be on carriers either planning to enter India or significantly expand their presence here. Geography is less important than intent. If an airline is serious about India and needs a partner that understands regulation, distribution and trade dynamics, that’s where Travesla comes in.
We see strong potential across the Middle East and South Asia corridors. On travel categories, we are inducting telecom-related products such as e-SIM and connectivity, along with accommodation linked to specific segments, including students and medium-term stays. Our focus remains on areas where we can bring clear commercial advantage to both clients and agent partners.
Anything else you’d like to add?
This is an exceptionally good time to be in the representation and distribution business out of India. Global airlines and travel brands understand the India growth story, but many underestimate the complexity of execution on the ground.
What they really need is a partner who can convert intent into real bookings — someone who understands regulation, trade relationships, pricing behaviour and how to move quickly without repeated trial and error. Travesla has been built precisely for this moment.
As we head into 2026, our focus is on deepening these strengths rather than chasing volume for its own sake. There is much more in the offing, and we are confident about the impact we will deliver for the brands that choose to work with us.
Rahul Bhadana is a digital editor at TravTalk with experience spanning multiple content niches, with a strong focus on travel trade journalism and digital publishing. A graduate of Delhi University, his work covers editorial writing, content strategy and platform-led storytelling, supporting TravTalk’s digital growth and industry engagement. A technology enthusiast, he enjoys films, poetry and exploring new ideas across media and culture.
