Uber, the popular ride-hailing company, has expanded its services in the UK by launching a new feature that allows users to book international and domestic flights through its app. According to a report by the Financial Times, Uber has taken this “ambitious step” to further diversify its offerings beyond ride-booking.
Andrew Brem, Uber’s General Manager in the UK, stated that the addition of flight bookings is part of the company’s broader strategy to expand its core business. This move follows Uber’s existing feature that enables train and coach ticket bookings within the UK. The company has already started rolling out the flight booking feature to its UK customers and plans to continue expanding its reach in the coming weeks.
To facilitate flight bookings, Uber has partnered with travel booking company Hopper. For each flight sale made through the app, Uber will receive a small commission. This collaboration allows Uber to leverage Hopper’s expertise in the travel industry while providing added convenience to its users.
The introduction of flight bookings aligns with Uber’s recent efforts to enhance its services. Just last month, the company expanded its ‘Reserve’ feature across six more cities in India. This feature allows riders to pre-book their rides anywhere from 30 minutes to 90 days in advance. Uber Reserve is now available for cash payments and covers various ride options, including Uber Premier, Uber Intercity, Uber Rentals, and Uber XL.
By expanding its offerings and catering to pre-planned travel needs, such as work trips, airport transportation, and scheduled appointments, Uber aims to provide a more comprehensive and convenient experience for its users. The recent additions of flight bookings and the Reserve feature in India demonstrate Uber’s commitment to diversifying its services and meeting the evolving needs of its global customer base.
As of now, Uber’s flight booking feature is available in the UK, while the Reserve feature is live in 13 cities across India, including Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi-NCR, Kolkata, Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad, Kochi, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, and Guwahati.
Uber continues to innovate and expand its services, integrating various modes of transportation to offer a seamless travel experience to its customers.
