According to Safeture, travel risk and safety management firm, business travel had increased sharply just before travel restrictions were imposed across the globe, at which point almost all travel came to a grinding stop – even for businesses who often depend on personal meetings for education or sales, the company noted. Indeed, in just 10 days, between 13 and 23 March, two out of three trips were cancelled, and by 6 April, global travel was only a mere 10 per cent compared to the same period a year earlier.

However, by careful analysis of the business trips of over 140,000 of its customers (measured using both bookings and positioning via mobile phones), Safeture has identified that even before the major countries around the world loosened their restrictions, the number of kilometres per business trip doubled. And, as further easing and air routes are restarted, the company believes there is likely to be a very rapid increase in travel length, despite much of the world entering the summer holiday season.

“The past months have been tough for everybody, and we have to expect a difficult year where all travel will be closely considered,” said Magnus Hultman, CEO of Safeture. “In a way, all countries will have to be considered high-risk countries, which will require companies, organisations and authorities to take responsibility for who books what and where, in co-operation with security platforms, travel companies and company security officers, travel managers and HR managers.”