The increase in air ticket sales for business travel indicates recovery for the sector in 2011, according de GEBTA Spain.
After several years of recession, the FQ1 results, presented recently by GEBTA (Guild of European Business Travel Agents), show that the business travel sector is on the road to recovery. Air ticket sales for business trips are up 8.34% on last year&#;39s results for the same period, which indicates a growth of 2-3% in 2011, generating income in the region of EUR 3,070 million.
This growth will allow the segment to reach a market share of 30% of all trips made in Spain – including both private and business travel – with respect to its current share of 28%.
According to GEBTA, the price of air travel has increased by 16.96% due to the fact that companies have lifted the ban on Business Class travel.
However, this growth has more to do with the disappearance of agencies than with business travel market growth, and GEBTA forecasts that the market still faces a dramatic adjustment, which will mean the disappearance of another 2,000 or 3,000 agencies.
GEBTA, which is formed by 17 travel agencies, eight of which figure among Spain&#;39s top 30 with regard to sales, currently has 815 points of sale with over 2,500 employees.
GEBTA Spain forms a part of GEBTA Europe, a consortium made up of different national delegations.
