{"id":295401,"date":"2023-10-29T10:06:27","date_gmt":"2023-10-29T10:06:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gdg.travel\/blog\/5-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-business-travel\/"},"modified":"2025-05-12T15:20:46","modified_gmt":"2025-05-12T14:20:46","slug":"5-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-business-travel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gdg.travel\/en-au\/blog\/5-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-business-travel\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Things You (Probably) Didn’t Know About Business Travel"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” admin_label=”HEADER BANNER” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ background_image=”https:\/\/www.gdg.travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Business-Woman-in-Loibby.jpg” parallax=”on” locked=”off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”%91%93″][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”5 Things You (Probably) Didn’t Know About Business Travel” subhead=”our pick of interesting facts and figures” admin_label=”HEADER – 6 Things You Didn’t Know…” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ title_line_height=”1.7em” background_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.29)” background_enable_image=”off” z_index_tablet=”500″ global_colors_info=”%91%93″ button_one_text__hover_enabled=”on|desktop”][\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”SECTION – Introduction” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_5,3_5″ _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”BODY – 6 Things Intro” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

The world of business travel is deceptively vast. Floating within its orbit are topics ranging from international air travel and cross-country rail, to wearable travel tech and government border initiatives.<\/strong><\/p>\n

With so much information to digest, it’s easy to miss some of the more interesting business travel facts, figures, and talking points that will no doubt make you stop and think “Wow, I didn’t know that…”<\/p>\n

In this article we’ve compiled our pick of things you (probably) didn’t know about business travel.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.gdg.travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/5-Things-You-Probably-Didnt-Know.gif” alt=”Low angle view of unrecognizable businessman in gray suit walking through airport terminal with briefcase and suitcase.” title_text=”5-Things-You-Probably-Didnt-Know” admin_label=”IMAGE – 6 Things Feat. ” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”SECTION – #1 Airline Less Profit” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_5,3_5,1_5″ admin_label=”ROW – Divider” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_5,3_5″ admin_label=”ROW – Airline Less Profit” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.gdg.travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Boarding-Pass-Web.jpg” title_text=”Boarding-Pass-(Web)” admin_label=”IMAGE – Airline Less Profit” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”HEADER – #1 Airline Less Profit” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

#1- Airlines Make Less Profit Per Passenger Than You Might Think…<\/h4>\n

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With plane tickets often so expensive, you might be surprised to learn that airlines make relatively little profit from selling them. The numbers speak for themselves –\u00a0 in 2023, airlines made an average profit of just $2 on per passenger ticket sales <\/strong>according to IATA.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Perhaps more startling is that this seemingly small profit is comparatively huge when compared to other periods over the last two decades. After the 2007-08 financial crash, average profit per passenger ticket dropped to -$10, while the more recent COVID-19 pandemic saw profits drop to an all time low, bottoming out at -$76 in 2019.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A considerable proportion of what airlines make does not come from the tickets at all. In fact, it’s all about ancillaries…<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”SECTION – #2 Ancillaries Profit” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#efefef” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_5,3_5″ admin_label=”ROW – #2 Ancillaries Profit” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#efefef” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.gdg.travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Ancillaries-Web.jpg” title_text=”Ancillaries-(Web)” admin_label=”IMAGE – Ancillaries” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”HEADER – #2 Ancillaries” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

#2- A Considerable Proportion of Airline Revenue is Generated by Ancillaries<\/h4>\n

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Much of an airline’s revenue comes from the sale of ancillaries such as premium seat selection, priority boarding, additional baggage and more. According to data from McKinney & Company, 60% of these ancillaries are being sold directly by airlines and their frontline staff, either face-to-face, online, or over the phone. The airlines who ranked in the top five for ancillary revenue in 2023 were:<\/p>\n

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  1. Delta = $8.0bn<\/li>\n
  2. United Airlines = $7.9bn<\/li>\n
  3. American Airways = $7.7bn<\/li>\n
  4. Southwest Group = $5.9bn<\/li>\n
  5. Ryanair = $4bn<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n
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    Revenue generated by ancillaries as a percentage of an airline’s total revenue is also high, with some airlines relying on ancillaries for up to 50% of their income. The following airlines were top of the list in terms of the proportion that ancillary sales contributed to their revenue:<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    1. Spirit = 51.5%<\/li>\n
    2. Frontier = 50.8%<\/li>\n
    3. Allegiant = 48.9%<\/li>\n
    4. Wizz Air = 48%<\/li>\n
    5. Viva Aerobus = 44.5%<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n

      [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”SECTION – #3 Busiest routes” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_5,3_5″ admin_label=”ROW – #3 Busiest Routes” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.gdg.travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Passenger-Flight-Web.jpg” title_text=”Passenger-Flight-(Web)” admin_label=”IMAGE – #3 Busiest Routes” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”HEADER – #3 – Busiest Routes” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

      #3- The Busiest Passenger Air Routes in the World are ALL Internal Flights<\/h4>\n

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      The top 10 busiest passenger air routes across the world does not include a single international or intercontinental flight according to IATA. Instead, domestic flights dominated the skies. The following routes were the busiest in terms of passenger traffic in 2023 so far:<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

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      1. Jeju-Si to Seoul<\/li>\n
      2. Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City<\/li>\n
      3. Sapporo to Tokyo<\/li>\n
      4. Melbourne to Sydney<\/li>\n
      5. Fukuoka to Tokyo<\/li>\n
      6. Hanoi to Da Nang<\/li>\n
      7. Delhi to Mumbai<\/li>\n
      8. Moscow to Sochi<\/li>\n
      9. Riyadh to Jeddah<\/li>\n
      10. Denpasar to Jakarta<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n
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        In other news, Ryanair set a new monthly passenger record in August\u200b 2023, with passenger numbers rising from 18.7m in July\u200b to 18.9m in August.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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        #4 – The Best Day to Book a Hotel in Europe is on a Sunday<\/h4>\n

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        When it comes to booking a hotel, the day make a big difference. You can make considerable savings on accommodation simply by staying at a particular time of the week. What’s more, this “magical” day differs depending on whether you’re staying in London, the UK, or Europe:<\/p>\n

         <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

        In London…<\/strong> The average daily hotel rate is lowest on a Sunday (\u00a3176) and highest on a Friday (\u00a3210), a difference 19% or \u00a334.<\/p>\n

        In the UK…<\/strong> The average daily hotel rate is lowest on a Thursday (\u00a3116) and highest on a Monday (\u00a3119), a difference of 3% or \u00a33.<\/p>\n

        In Europe…<\/strong> The average daily hotel rate is lowest on a Sunday (\u00a3150) and highest on a Wednesday (\u00a3195), a difference of 10% or \u00a318.<\/p>\n

        \u00a0<\/div>\n

        [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”SECTION – #6 Contrails left by jet planes are not great for the environment” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#FFFFFF” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_5,3_5″ admin_label=”ROW – #6 Contrails left by jet planes are not great for the environment” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#FFFFFF” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.gdg.travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Contrails-Web.jpg” title_text=”Contrails-(Web)” admin_label=”IMAGE – #6 Contrails” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”HEADER – #6 Contrail” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

        #5 – Contrails left in the sky by jet planes are bad for the environment<\/h4>\n

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        Airplane contrails, short for “condensation trails,” are streaks of clouds formed at high altitudes by the exhaust emissions of aircraft engines. Contrails are primarily composed of ice crystals and water vapor, and they can persist in the atmosphere for varying lengths of time, depending on atmospheric conditions. While contrails themselves do not directly cause global warming, they can indirectly contribute to it in several ways:<\/p>\n

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