diff --git a/src/Controller/Booking/Create/IndexController.php b/src/Controller/Booking/Create/IndexController.php
index 8409133..17857fc 100644
--- a/src/Controller/Booking/Create/IndexController.php
+++ b/src/Controller/Booking/Create/IndexController.php
@@ -37,26 +37,46 @@ class IndexController extends AbstractController
     ) {
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Entry point for starting a new booking.
+     *
+     * Renders a loading page that triggers the actual initialization via HTMX.
+     * This provides immediate visual feedback while BusProNet API calls are made.
+     */
+    #[Route(
+        path: '/bookings/create',
+        name: 'app_booking_create',
+    )]
+    public function index(#[MapQueryString] ?BookingQueryParams $params): Response
+    {
+        if (null === $params) {
+            throw $this->createNotFoundException('Invalid booking parameters provided');
+        }
+
+        return $this->render('booking/create/index.html.twig', [
+            'params' => $params,
+        ]);
+    }
+
     /**
      * Initializes a fresh booking session and redirects to the login page.
      *
-     * This endpoint provides a clean way to start the booking flow with just
-     * dateId and hotelId parameters. It clears any existing booking session,
-     * creates a fresh BookingDto, and redirects to the login page where users
-     * can authenticate (for prepopulation) or continue as guest.
+     * This endpoint is triggered via HTMX from the loading page. It clears any
+     * existing booking session, creates a fresh BookingDto, and redirects to
+     * the login page where users can authenticate or continue as guest.
      *
      * Optionally accepts an agency code parameter. If provided and valid, the
      * corresponding agency ID is stored in the booking. If not provided or invalid,
      * defaults to agency code '0001'.
      */
     #[Route(
-        path: '/bookings/create',
+        path: '/bookings/create/init',
         name: 'app_booking_create_init',
     )]
     public function init(Request $request, #[MapQueryString] ?BookingQueryParams $params): Response
     {
         if (null === $params) {
-            throw $this->createNotFoundException('Invalid booking parameters provided');
+            return $this->htmxRedirect($request, $this->generateUrl('app_booking_create_error'));
         }
 
         $dateId = $params->dateId;
@@ -85,15 +105,9 @@ class IndexController extends AbstractController
             );
 
             // Redirect to login page (optional authentication before Step 1)
-            return $this->redirectToRoute('app_login');
-        } catch (TravelNotFoundException) {
-            throw $this->createNotFoundException(sprintf('Travel not found for date ID %d', $dateId));
-        } catch (HotelNotFoundException) {
-            throw $this->createNotFoundException(sprintf('Hotel not found for hotel ID %d', $hotelId));
-        } catch (HotelNotInTravelException) {
-            throw $this->createNotFoundException(sprintf('Hotel ID %d is not available for travel ID %d', $hotelId, $dateId));
-        } catch (NoRoomsAvailableException) {
-            throw $this->createNotFoundException('No rooms available for this travel.');
+            return $this->htmxRedirect($request, $this->generateUrl('app_login'));
+        } catch (TravelNotFoundException|HotelNotFoundException|HotelNotInTravelException|NoRoomsAvailableException) {
+            return $this->htmxRedirect($request, $this->generateUrl('app_booking_create_error'));
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/templates/booking/create/index.html.twig b/templates/booking/create/index.html.twig
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a881359
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/booking/create/index.html.twig
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+{% extends 'layout_booking.html.twig' %}
+
+{% block content %}
+    <div class="flex-1 flex items-center justify-center"
+         hx-get="{{ path('app_booking_create_init', {
+             date_id: params.dateId,
+             hotel_id: params.hotelId,
+             agency: params.agency,
+             theme: params.theme,
+             r: params.returnUrl
+         }) }}"
+         hx-trigger="load"
+         hx-swap="none">
+    </div>
+{% endblock %}