Business travellers less willing to fly for work
Environmental concerns and the Covid-19 pandemic have changed habits
Over 2,500 employees from the UK, US, France, Germany and Spain were polled as part of the Travel Smart Campaign by Transport & Environment.
The survey revealed that combatting climate change and the pandemic are reasons for the reduction in flying for work.
Nearly three quarters (74 per cent) of employees believe that reduction in air travel is an important factor in reducing a company’s carbon footprint.
“Corporate flying habits have changed – and employees want a new normal, where businesses take responsibility for reducing their share of emissions,” said Denise Auclair, Corporate Travel Campaign Manager at Transport & Environment.
The survey also noted a potential impact on meetings. Seventy-two per cent of respondents are willing to take fewer flights for internal meetings, while 67 per cent would plan more local meetings instead of global ones, to reduce long-haul travel.
“Employees understand the climate impact of long-haul flying and are willing to curb their travel. But they expect top management to lead by example and set ambitious business travel reduction targets,” Auclair said.
The pandemic has hugely impacted the travel and business travel sector. Of the 1,279 respondents that need to fly for work, 62 per cent have curbed their flying habits compared to pre-pandemic levels; 27 per cent said they fly as often as they did before; and 11 per cent are flying more now.
The return to corporate travel after the pandemic has led to employers opting in for specific corporate business travel services to offer support to their employees.