Irish travel technology firm CarTrawler has acquired French insurtech startup Koala, marking its first major move into the insurance technology space.
The deal signals CarTrawler’s strategy to expand beyond its car rental focus and build out a broader suite of embedded travel services.
Koala, based in Paris, has built an API-first, automated insurance platform designed to remove the bottlenecks of traditional travel insurance.
Its products include Cancel For Any Reason coverage and Parametric Flight Disruption Insurance, both of which deliver instant claim outcomes and flexible reimbursement options without the heavy documentation burden typically associated with claims.
This streamlined approach addresses persistent customer frustrations and fits directly into CarTrawler’s focus on improving conversion rates and driving ancillary revenue for partners.
CarTrawler will integrate Koala’s capabilities into its Connect Platform, which currently links airlines, online travel agencies, and mobility providers with more than 2,200 suppliers across 50,000 locations in over 150 countries.
The addition of insurance enables partners to offer multiple ancillary services—car rentals, mobility solutions, and now insurance—through a single integration, cutting development costs while increasing potential revenue per booking.
With distribution channels that include American Airlines, Qantas, Virgin Australia, Jet2, easyJet, Uber, United Airlines, eDreams ODIGEO, and American Express, CarTrawler is well-positioned to push Koala’s products through an extensive partner base.
The demand for B2B travel ancillary solutions continues to increase, with our travel partners asking us to add these solutions to our offering.
CarTrawler CEO Peter O’Donovan
Airlines already generate close to 15% of revenue from ancillary services, with insurance becoming a key growth driver.
Koala currently works with over 70 travel partners in 17 countries. Its established footprint provides CarTrawler with an immediate foundation to scale insurance products globally.
The timing reflects a post-pandemic travel landscape where consumers place greater value on flexibility and protection.
Flexible coverage for cancellations and disruptions has moved from optional to essential, influencing booking behavior across airlines and OTAs.
Analysts note that the acquisition positions CarTrawler in direct competition with other travel insurtech firms. However, its unique combination of global distribution reach and Koala’s streamlined technology provides a competitive advantage.
For travel companies, the integration simplifies the process of adding ancillary products, while travelers gain access to more relevant, flexible protection options at the point of purchase.
This deal also mirrors a wider consolidation trend in travel technology, where firms are expanding beyond single-service platforms to create bundled, revenue-generating solutions for partners navigating an increasingly competitive market.
