Developing an Air Travel Reservations App: A Cost Guide

September 19, 2023

By: PhoenixBizz Staff Writer
PhoenixBizz is a division of Sofvue, LLC
Printed with permission of Data Titan and Sofvue LLC

Consumers now browse the Internet for everything on their smartphones, including flight reservations. Instead of redirecting them to third-party service providers, why not have your own flight reservations system app? Flight reservations system app development can help smaller carriers support their customer base by offering a seamless flight reservations system.

Airlines are shifting to a modern method of flight reservations system for ease and efficiency. These apps are not just limited to airlines, businesses are also leveraging mobile app development technology for all sorts of reservation systems. If you are interested in developing a flight reservations system, here’s a quick reference guide to get you started.

About Flight reservations system Apps

A flight reservations system app is a digital platform designed to simplify the process of reserving and purchasing airline tickets. Since technology paved the way for new innovations, these apps have become a convenient and efficient way for travelers to plan their journeys. Flight reservations system apps offer a user-friendly interface where individuals can search for flights based on their preferences, including departure and arrival dates, destinations, costs and cabin class.

These apps operate by collecting information from various airlines, allowing users to compare prices and choose the most suitable option. Beyond booking flights, many of these apps also provide additional features such as hotel reservations, car rentals, and even itinerary management.

One of the prominent benefits of using a flight reservations system app is the ability to access real-time information, receive notifications about deals and discounts, and make instant bookings from anywhere with an internet connection. This technology has transformed the way people plan their trips, providing convenience, transparency, and flexibility in managing their travel arrangements. Sites like Trivago.com, Travelocity.com or Kayak.com, are all examples of flight reservation application systems.

Cost factors associated with flight reservation systems app development

Businesses wanting to invest in a flight reservations system app should be aware of the cost factors associated with the development process. Different developers and service providers have distinct pricing structures. Some include advanced features in their pricing scheme while the others charge extra for customizations. The information below will give you a fair idea of what aspects elevate the development cost of a flight reservations system mobile app.

Cost factors associated with flight reservation systems app development

App Features: The features you shortlist for the app impact its development cost. It is best to keep a healthy balance of advanced and basic features, so you get a decent app developed at nominal costs. Many app developers have distinct packages of basic, advanced, and premium features. You can select the one that best suits your budget.

App Complexity: Certain apps are overly complex to design, and they come with a heavy price tag. For example, high-end technologies like artificial intelligence or machine learning require expensive resources, leading to increased development cost. However, since AI can add value and uniqueness to your app, you can leverage it to build an impressive ticket booking app by increasing budgets.

Design and Interface: The UI/UX design of your app plays a key role in deciding if the audience is going to approve it. An app development service provider has a separate design team that takes care of how your app appears on the screen. The more complex your design, the higher the development costs.

Team Size: App development is not a cakewalk, and it is certainly not a one-person job. The team size of a specific project is decided based on the app’s complexity and requirements.

Customization: All mobile apps require customized features. You should never use a development company’s off-the-shelf services without customization. But also keep in mind that the development cost will go up with customized features.

Cross-platform Compatibility: Having an app that is compatible across all platforms and devices is crucial. You can get the app designed for a single platform but that will limit its availability. Cross-platform apps bring the most online traffic, which in turn provides your business with maximum revenue capability.

Data Privacy and Security: Flight reservations system apps handle sensitive user data, including personal information and payment details. Implementing robust security measures to protect user data from breaches or cyberattacks is a non-negotiable expense.

Maintenance and Updates: After the initial development, ongoing maintenance, updates, and bug fixes are necessary to keep the app running smoothly and meeting changing industry standards. These costs are often underestimated but are crucial for the app's long-term success.

App Marketing: The flight reservations system market is highly competitive as all airline and ticket booking businesses now have accompanying mobile apps.  A mobile app development company can assist you in creating a marketing strategy for the app. They provide promotions, advertising, and other forms of marketing services but these contribute to post-development costs.

Benefits of building a flight reservations system app developed

Getting a flight reservations system app developed provides ease and convenience to travelers. The app enhances user experience and streamlines operations using innovative technologies.

Benefits of building a flight reservations system app developed

Timely Updates: Flight schedules, availability, and pricing can change frequently. A well-developed app offers real-time updates, ensuring that users have access to the latest information and can make informed decisions.

User Convenience: A flight reservations system app provides travelers with the convenience of searching for, comparing, and booking flights from the comfort of their mobile devices. This eliminates the need to visit multiple websites or physical agencies, saving time and effort.

Higher User Traffic: SEO optimization is an integral part of app development. You can expect good online traffic with an app designed using well-planned SEO strategies.

Offers for Users: Apps allow you to provide exclusive deals and discounts for users, incentivizing direct bookings and potentially saving travelers’ money. This brings in more customers, leading to higher revenue and return on investments (ROI).

You may also like to read: How Much Does It Cost to Develop an Airport Parking Mobile App?

Top features to add to your flight reservations system app

Developing a flight reservations app demands meticulous planning and strategy formulation, which includes pinpointing the optimal set of features. The functionality you incorporate can significantly impact the app's market performance. For a superior and smooth user experience, it's advisable to integrate both trending and practical features.

Features to add to your flight reservations system app

Search Bar: Audience prefer simple and accessible options. Adding a search bar on top of the app interface provides them the convenience of searching for their preferred flights, locations, etc. You should also provide a filter option for date, destination, price, etc.

Real-time Tracking: It is wise to give your travelers the ease of tracking their flight in real time. The tracking system provides updates on departure and arrival times, gate changes, and delays. Providing such information at the user's fingertips enhances their journey and travel experience.

Payment Gateways: One payment method is not enough, adding a secure payment gateway with multiple payment options provides ease to your customers. Integrating options like payment through debit and credit cards, internet banking, etc. makes your app more user-friendly.

Aircraft Views: A lot of flight reservations system apps display pictures of the aircraft facilities and seats. This provides a more comprehensive view of the aircraft, helping travelers select their preferred seats. Providing cabin views, including details about legroom and amenities, helps users make informed decisions about their comfort preferences.

Offline Mode: Always-on-Internet access is never 100% guaranteed. Adding an offline mode to your flight reservations system app can take the customer experience to a whole new level. The feature allows users to access their flight details and itineraries even when they are not connected to the internet.

How to hire a cost-efficient flight reservations system app development company?

Hiring the right company must be given the right consideration and approach. While cost is a significant factor, ensuring the quality and functionality of the app is equally crucial. Follow the below points to make the right choice:

Company Portfolio: Evaluate the company's portfolio to gauge their experience in developing travel-related apps. Look for projects that align with your vision, as experience often translates into efficient development processes and timely project delivery.

Technical Knowledge: Identify the development team's technical skills and proficiency in relevant technologies such as mobile app frameworks, API integrations, and UI/UX design. Hiring a service provider with a skilled team can streamline development, reducing unnecessary costs.

App Testing: A reliable company will prioritize rigorous testing to ensure the app's functionality, security, and user experience. Avoid companies that skimp on testing, as this can lead to costly post-launch bug fixes and performance issues.

Client Reviews: Looking at the service provider’s reviews can help you assess the experience of their previous clients. You can easily find a few reviews online. Apart from that, you can also ask the service provider for references.

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Frequently asked questions on flight reservations system app development

How much do you charge for flight reservations system app development?

App development involves various stages like UI/UX design, coding, development, testing etc. The actual cost depends on the teams needed for carrying out these processes and other factors like customization, project complexity, specifications, etc. Book a call now to learn more about pricing and development costs.

Do you provide custom mobile app development services?

Yes, we deliver custom mobile apps based on project requirements. From cross-device and platform compatibility to unique UI/UX designs and mobile alert features, our team of experts customize the app based on your needs and preference.

How much time do you take to develop a custom flight reservations system application?

Our architects, engineers, analysts, developers, designers, and programmers carefully analyze and complete your project in a prompt and cost-efficient manner. Typically, a flight reservations system app takes about 3-12 months to complete but the exact time depends on the project scope and complexity, features, etc.

Conclusion

A flight reservations system is an essential part of any journey and travelers want it to be seamless. A flight reservations system app is often preferred over the traditional method involving paperwork. At Phoenix Bizz, we can provide your business with the app development needed to launch a flight reservations system and mobile app.

With two decades of experience, we stand firm as one of the leading mobile app and custom software development companies in the US. Additionally, we have designed and developed $23MM in application solutions. PhoenixBizz, a division of Data Titan and Sofvue, LLC, has also won state and regional awards and selected as one of the best development firms in Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff, as well Los Angeles and San Diego County. To learn more, contact us at 623-845-2747.

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