More and more business travellers are choosing to fly economy, especially in Europe, according to the International Air Transport Association. IATA has confirmed that revenues from business and first-class tickets fell by as much as 25 percent in January year-on-year. "There is evidence that business passengers are trading down to cheaper tickets," the association writes in its latest Premium Traffic Monitor. While it is true that business travellers in Europe have been shifting in recent years to cheaper seats on short-haul flights, IATA says that the economic turmoil is amplifying this trend. "Fares are also now falling sharply, as well as passenger numbers," it says. Demand for economy travel has also fallen with the crisis, but at a slower rate than the premium segment that is so important for many airlines.

 

Stand By News, 2009-03-18