Exclusive Interview with BookingAgora in Baku: A Pioneering Company in the Travel Industry

7 days ago

As AirwayBuzz, we traveled to Baku on AJet’s #VF179 flight from Sabiha Gökçen upon the invitation of AJet, Absheron Hotel Group, and BookingAgora. AJet currently operates daily flights on the Sabiha Gökçen – Baku and Ankara Esenboğa – Baku routes.

For ground services in Baku, MiceBaku provided valuable support, allowing us to explore significant landmarks such as Yanardag, Ateshgah, Martyrs’ Alley, Flag Square, and Torgovy Square. At Shirvanshah Museum Restaurant, we enjoyed a remarkable dining experience accompanied by traditional Azerbaijani Mugham music.

During our visit, BookingAgora, an emerging key player in the travel industry, stood out with its customer-centric approach. In an exclusive interview with co-founder Murat Kahraman, we delved into the company’s origins, operations, and future vision.

The Rise of BookingAgora

Established in 2016, BookingAgora offers comprehensive solutions for travel agencies, covering flight tickets, hotel reservations, transfer services, and car rentals. Unlike platforms targeting individual consumers, the company focuses on a B2B model, providing tailored solutions for travel agencies and tour operators.

The Meaning Behind BookingAgora’s Name

One of the most intriguing aspects of the company is its name. “Booking” represents reservation and pre-booking in English, while “Agora” means marketplace in Greek and “now” in Portuguese. The company was founded by Aziz Ciga, Mahmut Ciga, Kadri Ciga, Sezgin Kara, and Murat Kahraman.

A Robust Technology Platform for Travel Agencies

Murat Kahraman highlights that one of the biggest challenges in the industry is the technological and infrastructure investment burden on travel agencies. BookingAgora addresses this issue by offering a powerful technology-driven platform that enables agencies to manage their operations efficiently. “We operate as a technology company, but we also excel in managing operations,” Kahraman emphasizes.

Crisis Management and Rapid Solutions

With a strong emphasis on customer satisfaction, BookingAgora excels in swift crisis management. In cases of flight cancellations or hotel reservation issues, its dedicated customer service team intervenes immediately to resolve problems. Operating under the motto “Our passengers will never be left stranded,” the company takes direct action when needed, working closely with hotels to ensure a seamless experience for travelers.

Digitalization and Future Ambitions

Investing heavily in digitalization, BookingAgora is developing solutions such as online visa processing, dynamic pricing systems, and corporate travel management services for agencies. The company aims to drive further innovation in travel technology and strengthen its global presence in the coming years.

Global Operations

With nearly 100 employees and operations in 47 countries, BookingAgora has built a reputation for fast and effective problem-solving in the industry.

The company collaborates with leading airlines such as:

Turkish Airlines, AJet, SunExpress, Emirates, Lufthansa, Etihad Airways, Aegean Airlines, and FlyDubai.
Additionally, it has partnerships with over 400 airlines, facilitating travel to 336 different airports in the past month alone.

Top Airports of the Last Month

The most frequently used airports in BookingAgora’s recent operations include: