The airline has reported a weekly increase in bookings of 30 per cent to 40 per cent. Brussels Airlines expects companies to ease restrictions in their travel policies as of October, 2021. While corporate travellers usually book two to three weeks in advance, this has drastically changed due to the pandemic. Currently, the booking timing is mostly two to three days before of the respective passenger’s travel date.
As global business markets are beginning to resume back to life before the pandemic, some sectors are resuming corporate travel faster than others. The first sectors to revive business travel again are the European and other political institutions, universities and the Marine business, followed by the automotive industry, international construction companies and producers of building materials. Also NGO’s and insurance companies performing repatriations represent a significant share of Brussels Airlines’ corporate customers.
While many multinationals still apply a (partial) homeworking policy, the airline expects its major corporate customers to ease their travel policies as of October.
Currently, there is a higher demand for flights to USA due to the relaxation of travel restrictions for fully vaccinated passengers. In the first 24 hours after the announcement of the end of the travel ban, Brussels Airlines noted a booking increase of 180%. The Belgian airline will offer 4 weekly flights to New York JFK during the winter season.
Brussels Airlines expects that the demand for corporate travel will reach the level of 2019 again by 2024. On the other hand, the demand for leisure travel increases at a faster rate.
For more details, click on this link.
