The enthusiastic response for on-line booking has forced the airline to join hands for e-commerce alliances which will become the mainstay for travel related activities in the near future, the official added. The plan to create a new company has been born out of the fact that e-commerce needs expertise of a different kind. The company could team up with various players including travel portals and agencies which have already created infrastructure for e-ticketing, said the official.

Sahara's online module has all the flight and fare details and the passengers can reserve the ticket by providing the credit card details. However, the credit card of the passenger is not charged and the system will give airport ticketing to the booking created through the internet.

In a marked departure from its aggressive fare cuts during the last summer season, the airline is gradually moiving away from the "price war" strategy. The airline is planning to bring in an external consultant to advise on the route structure and fleet rationalisation. Plans are also afoot to sell two old Boeing 737-200s and replace them with next generation aircraft.

Though the airline has indicated its intention to opt out of the fare cuts, it has introduced a special "take offer" scheme starting April 11. As per the scheme, the airline is offering Titan watches and Olympus cameras for the passengers travelling in the major routes. Sahara Airlines has also decided to extend the special fare scheme for the summer season lasting up to September 30. As per the scheme, for the key Mumbai-Delhi sector, a passenger has to shell out only Rs 4,666.