AirTrackBot’s Journey from Zero to 2M Users and $8K/Month

Background & Origin

In late 2017, developer and frequent flyer Niki Kravchuk grew tired of manually scanning airline sites for cheap tickets. He sketched out a small Telegram bot that could automatically poll flight data and ping users when fares dropped. Relying on his earlier work with the Kiwi.com API, he completed a minimal viable product in just four weeks, focusing on two low-cost carriers. The simplicity and utility of the tool made it a natural fit for a chat environment.

Technical Setup

AirTrackBot runs on a basic Python backend that interfaces with the Telegram Bot API. Scheduled tasks call Kiwi.com’s endpoints to fetch pricing, while a database logs user subscriptions and routes alerts. In early 2018, Kravchuk added a Skyscanner affiliate integration, expanding flight inventory without extra scraping work. Hosting on a lightweight cloud instance ensures near-zero downtime and scales smoothly as user load spikes.

Viral Growth & Media Coverage

Once live, the bot gained traction locally thanks to articles in prominent tech blogs and a feature on Ukraine’s top TV channel. Users shared deals directly in group chats, and travel influencers on YouTube praised the ease of getting fare alerts. Word-of-mouth drove rapid adoption: going from 100 000 to 200 000 users in just 17 days. International expansion followed organically, with heavy uptake in India, the US, Brazil, and Turkey.

Monetization Strategy

AirTrackBot adopted a straightforward $12/year subscription model. This single-payment approach avoids monthly debit fatigue and boosts customer lifetime value. Additionally, every flight booked through bot referrals nets a commission via the Skyscanner affiliate program. Combined, these streams pull in about $8 000 each month, a solid return for a nearly zero-cost operation.

Key Features

• Automated price tracking for flights on major low-cost carriers.
• Instant Telegram notifications when fares drop below user-set thresholds.
• Global coverage through Skyscanner’s API without added scraping.
• Simple onboarding: just start the bot and set up routes.

Lessons Learned

Launching on a platform with 900 million active users meant zero acquisition spend. Prioritizing a frictionless UX in a familiar chat interface drove adoption without a steep learning curve. A single, transparent price point reduces churn and fosters trust. Finally, leveraging strategic affiliate partnerships avoids the complexity of direct airline deals.