Nearly half of 217 companies worldwide reduced their carbon emissions from business travel by at least 50 percent between 2019 and 2022, an analysis published Monday found.
Despite the global upswing, business travel has only slowly returned to 2019 levels, as many corporate customers resort to video conferences or train journeys instead of flying.
Global business travel companies say the trend could hurt business relationships, while environmentalists argue it is an important step toward reducing overall emissions.
Pressure group Transport and Environment has said a 50% reduction in business travel this decade from pre-Covid levels is needed to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Major companies such as technology firm SAP SAP, accounting firm PwC and Lloyd’s Banking Group LLOY have all reduced their air travel by more than 75 percent compared to 2019, according to analysis by Travel Smart Emissions Tracker.
“The way forward is collaboration with more online meetings, more travel by train and less by plane,” Denise Auclair, Travel Smart campaign manager, said in a statement.
However, the study found that 21 of the companies are flying more compared to 2019, with L3Harris LHX, Boston Scientific BSX and Marriott International MAR increasing their carbon emissions by more than 69 percent compared to 2019.
L3Harris, Boston Scientific and Marriott International did not respond to requests for comment.
Airlines say the decline in business travel could hurt their business and economic growth, but robust consumer demand for flights post-pandemic has eased fears.
A joint survey by American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT) and the Harvard Business Review released in September said 84 percent of companies believe personal travel still provides a “tangible business benefit.”
According to estimates by the industry association Airlines for America, business travel accounted for up to half of U.S. airlines’ passenger revenue before the pandemic. This helped airlines sell high-margin premium seats and fill weekday flights.
In Europe, airlines such as Air France have changed strategies and others are trying to offset the decline in business travel by selling more premium trips to leisure travelers.
2023-12-17 23:30:07
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