Ebookers is paying a cash bonus of nearly £1m to a co-founder of the online travel agency, in case she feels "taken for granted" as a woman.

The company, which yesterday revealed a £3m third-quarter loss, said it was making a one-off payment of £880,000 to Tani Dhamija following her work in integrating recently acquired businesses.

Mrs Dhamija founded Ebookers alongside her husband, Dinesh, who admitted that the couple had little financial need for the money. Mr Dhamija said the payment was necessary because "firstly she's a woman and secondly she's my wife".

He continued: "Women these days don't like being taken for granted. It's very important they get credit for what they do."

A former air stewardess, Mrs Dhamija helped build the business from a single shop in Earls Court. The couple's 42% stake is now worth £131m.

Her responsibilities have included restructuring the company's UK operations following its purchase of rival Flightbookers. She has also taken charge of Tecnovate, an Indian outsourcing business.

The company had planned to hand her share options amounting to 1.5% of the business. But, following advice from independent remuneration specialists, it opted for a cash payment.

Ebookers' sales in the three months to September were up 86% to £145m.