The new study unveiled by AirPlus surveyed fewer than 529 business travellers in nine European countries. In addition to the Francethe payment specialist looked at Germany, Austria, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Switzerland. The aim was to measure the importance attached to sustainable development in travel policies. And according to the figures revealed by AirPlus, four out of ten European companies (41%) have introduced sustainable development guidelines to govern business travel.
But this European average conceals major - and sometimes surprising - disparities - from one market to another. Starting with theGermanyGermany is lagging far behind its neighbours. Only 20 % of German companies have adopted sustainable development guidelines in their travel policies. At the other end of the scale unveiled by AirPlus, the France is a case in point (48%), along with Italy (42%) and above all the UK. The gap between European markets therefore remains problematic... as does the gap between intentions and actions. According to AirPlus, 63 % of those surveyed want to reduce the environmental impact of their business travel.
The study conducted by AirPlus goes further in its analysis of European business travel habits. Starting with the relationship between different nationalities and air travel. Germany, for example, is improving its image thanks to its limited use of air travel. 70% of German business travellers rarely, if ever, take the plane. In contrast, British (37 %), French (31 %) and Italian (33 %) business travellers often or very often travel by plane. According to AirPlus, 49 % of them travel by train.
The payment solutions specialist also confirms the disgraceful domestic flightsThis is being driven by travel policies. These are banning domestic flights in 40% of European companies. As a result, the share of domestic flights has fallen from 20 % of business flights in 2019 to 13 % this year.
