With Cleartrip, Flipkart’s travel plans get a jump-start

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Editor's note: The chatter that Walmart-owned Flipkart is looking to buy online travel aggregator Cleartrip has been making headlines for more than a month now. Finally, the deal was announced today. Flipkart, India's homegrown e-commerce marketplace today announced the proposed acquisition of Cleartrip, a leading online travel technology company. Flipkart will acquire 100% of Cleartrip’s shareholding, as the company further enhances its investments to strengthen its digital commerce offerings for customers. Under the terms of the agreement, Cleartrip operations will be acquired by Flipkart. Cleartrip will continue to operate as a separate brand, retaining all employees while working closely with Flipkart to further develop technology solutions to make travel simple for customers. From Flipkart• This acquisition is being pegged by the business press and analysts as another step by Flipkart towards its super app ambitions, much like those of its rivals. It is also being perceived as a part of Flipkart’s ongoing shopping spree; Cleartrip will be the e-commerce platform’s fourth deal in the past year or so. But if you look at it closely, there are multiple reasons for why this …