36-38 INDUSTRY air 2/12/08 15:05 Page 36
36 industry report – air
Flight bookings up –
premium bookings down
Bookings in premium cabins may be falling, but overall flight bookings have increased over
the past year. Low-cost carriers are also becoming more popular – it’s not just price, as the
destinations they serve and the frequency of flights appeal to the business traveller
air travel client concerns
he overall volume of flight bookings has
THE VOLUME OF
ear. But many business
5:1. What are your clients’ main concerns when flying? travellers have chosen to downgrade from
PREMIUM CLASS
choice of airport 19% the premium first or business class cabins to
BOOKINGS WILL
cost 50% T
increased this y
economy for cost reasons.
CONTINUE TO
security 1% More than 54% of respondents claimed the number of
DROP NEXT
what cabin they are in 4% air bookings had increased in the past 12 months, with
what airline they are booked on 12% only 16% reporting a decrease (5:2). In question 5:3, 36%
YEAR, BUT
frequent flyer miles 7% say they have seen a fall in the volume of premium cabin THERE WON’T
carbon emissions 7% bookings as a result of the global financial downturn.
BE A FALL IN
Norman Gage, Advantage’s director of business travel,
believes the credit crunch has not had a huge effect on
THE OVERALL
bookings this year, but will dictate trends over the next
NUMBER OF
12 months. He said: “The figures are positive, but we
FLIGHTS BOOKED
must take into account that this is based on bookings
over the past 12 months, and the real squeeze on travel
only hit late in the year. I think the volume of premium
class bookings will continue to drop next year, but I don’t
envisage a fall in the overall number of flights booked.
“I predict the majority of corporates will look at
spending their travel budgets more wisely, rather
than making sweeping cuts. It’ll be about getting more
for their money. Sales managers won’t be happy if
they are told they have less to spend on travel. The
manufacturing and service industries rely on it. If they
don’t travel, their sales will fall – and it becomes a
dangerous self-perpetuating cycle which could result in
companies closing their doors.”
5:1. IN THIS YEAR’S SURVEY, COST CAME OUT TOP OF CLIENTS MAIN CONCERNS
WHEN FLYING ONCE AGAIN, A LONG WAY AHEAD OF CHOICE OF AIRPORT
2007 2008
51% 50%
Cost Cost
17% 19%
Queues at airports Choice of airport
11% 12%
What airline What airline
ttgbusiness.com ❖ industry report 2008
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