INSIGHTS: THE BUSINESS TRAVEL TRENDS

December 2023 ended the year with a 5 month slide in sales - losing $2.2B in value. This is the first time that total sales for the month fell below $6B.  Total number of trips also decreased 5 months in a row - losing over 6M trips over that period of time.

November 2023 marked a decrease in sales for 4 months in a row - losing $1.5B in value. This is the first time that total sales for the month fell below $7B.  Total number of trips also decreased 4 months in a row - losing 3M trips over that period of time.

October 2023 was not a good month for travel. For the first time this year, where we had a month with lower sales vs the same month in the previous year.  We also saw the largest delta between 2023 and 2019 with $1B less in sales.  Tota passenger trips also ...

  Last month's first uptick in sales since May 2023 did not last long as this month, we saw a decrease of 5.5% in sales.  Total passenger trips also took a decrease of over 1.3M trips compared to last month with the decreases coming equally both from ...

We finally saw some uptick in sales this month - consistent with what we saw last year during the month of August.  This is due to the increase in the number of Total Passenger Trips which also increased.  The average ticket price continues to decrease ...

July 2023 has decreases across the board in many categories of our report - sales, average ticket prices, airline fees and passenger trips.  Since May 2023, sales over the last 2 months have dropped by $1.5B.  That amounts to a total decrease of 17%.

 In June 2023 we are seeing across the board decreases in sales, average ticket prices, airline fees, passenger trips & EMD sales. Sales decreased by over $1B and total passenger trips decreased by almost 2M trips from the previous month.

Sales in May 2023 increased slightly from last month and was only 5% higher than the same month in 2022.  That is not bad but also not that good.  We are seeing the gap between the 2 years decrease as the year progresses - leading to a flatlining of travel.

April had its largest decrease in total sales for the year of $1B compared to the previous month of March.  Total passenger trips also decreased in April by over 2M trips.  Both domestic and international trips decreased by 1M trips each.

Just like January & February, March total sales are at similar levels as 2019.  Total airline fees are consistently exceeding 2019 levels.  And while the sales are similar, the number of passenger trips is not.  The total number of passenger trips is 13-14% less...

In February, total sales are at the same levels as 2019.  Total airline fees have now exceeded 2019 levels.  However, both January and February have identical results which might indicate a flattening of travel sales.  The number of passenger trips continues...

If 2020 was the year of demise for the travel industry, then 2021 was the year of truth and 2022 was the year of recovery.  What about 2023?  I believe it will be known as the year of truth.  Will the industry rebound back, or has it changed due to changes in...

December sales numbers dropped to their lowest point since May 2022 for a total loss of almost $3B.  The average ticket price also dropped to its lowest point since March 2022 with the exception of August 2022.  

Total sales have dropped to the lowest point since the recovery back in March 2022.  November sales dropped by almost $1B from October.  This represents the second largest one month decline equivalent to 11% in...

Sales have continued to flatline for 3 months now at $7.3B going back to July 2022 when we saw a significant dip of $1B in just one month.   The average ticket price however has increased in the last 2 months...

 We saw a flatline in sales in September 2022 compared to the previous month.  However, we saw an increase in the average ticket price for the first time in 4 months.   Total passenger trips declined by ...

The sales for August 2022 increased for the first time in 3 months.  This month it increased by almost $0.5B when compared to the previous month.  The average ticket price continued to decline...

The sales for July 2022 declined by $1.1B when compared to the June 2022 and declined by $1.6B when compared to May 2022.  This is the second consecutive decline in sales and the first for the year.  Likewise...

June 2022 sales decreased by 6% from the previous month and is at 100% of Jun 2019 sales.  This shows that the industry has rebounded back when looking at 2019 as the benchmark.  Total number of trips...

May 2022 sales increased by 10% from the previous month and is at 95% of Jan 2020 sales.  This is reflective of the industry's recovery over the last 27 months.  Total number of trips increased slightly...

April 2022 sales stayed flat with the previous month and the total number of trips decreased by 10% with both domestic and international travel being down in numbers.  While the number of passengers decreased...

March 2022 sales grew a record of $2.5B from the previous month and by $5B YoY.  That represents an increase of 282%.  It was a great growth month.  When comparing against March 2019, total sales is at 85%, down...

February 2022 sales grew by almost $2B from the previous month. That represents an increase of 150%. It was a great growth month. The number of passenger trip counts increased by 120% with international...

January 2022 started on a good note.  Sales increased compared to the same month in 2021 by 285%.  Total passenger trips also increased by 206% with both domestic and international trips showing increases...

In December 2021, the year ended on a good note.  The average ticket price almost reached 2019 levels coming within $14.  Domestic EMD transactions continued to surpass 2019 levels as did EMD sales.

 In November 2021, total sales went to the highest level for the entire year.  It was the record for 2021 even though passenger trips dipped slightly.  The major reason for this was that the average ticket price increased by...

In October 2021, airline fees hit its highest level for the entire 2021 coming close to $1B per month and growing by 900% YoY.  Total fare also performed at the highest level for the year. Total sales grew YoY by over 300%.

 In September 2021, the total passenger trips which was decreasing for the last 2 months has leveled off with a slight increase from the previous month.   This was mostly contributed by an increase in international travel.  

In August 2021, the total passenger trips which was increasing every month since January has decreased now for 2 months in a row.  This shows that a dry spell can be coming up for travel. 

In July 2021, the total passenger trips continued to increase when compared against 2019 but for the first time this year, it decreased when compared to the previous month (not by much).

  The great news in June 2021 is that total passenger trips has increased and when compared against 2019, it is within 27 percentage points. This is driven by a strong domestic market.

 May 2021 shows 2 months of consecutive growth in travel sales, average ticket prices and passenger trips.  Average ticket prices have risen by double digits. Airline fees are seeing 400%+ increases.   

Apr 2021 has shown many impressive gains in travel.  Last year in 2020, we saw negative sales numbers for the first time as refunds and cancellations dominated travel.  One year later in 2021, we are seeing substantial increases.  

  Mar 2021 marks the beginning of the 2nd Pandemic Year.  The first full Pandemic Year lasted from Mar 2020 to Feb 2021.  We are reporting an increase for the first time in over a year but still substantially...

 Feb 2021 marks the last month of the 1st full Pandemic Year.  Similar to how some companies have a fiscal year from April to March, in travel we will measure the...

 Back in Jan 2020, there was hardly any information on the pandemic and most of us were going about our lives like everything was normal.  I remember vividly how...