A survey of frequent business travellers projects an overall drop in corporate air travel spend of 7.5 per cent over the next 12 months, according to a poll by aerospace specialists, Ascend. Reported by Reuters, the poll found that 52 per cent of respondents said their company’s air travel budget was set to drop significantly and 46 per cent expected the number of flights taken would fall significantly. Ascend surveyed 280 frequent business travellers from over 35 countries about their expected air travel habits over the next year, 60 per cent of whom would typically fly Business or First Class on long haul.
“This is the weakest outlook for international business travel in nearly 20 years,” said Peter Morris, Chief Economist, Ascend adding, “There’s a much higher level of control over corporate travel budgets than in the 90s, with only 20 per cent of business travellers now allowed full freedom to choose whom they will fly with |