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Business Travel to Decline
Further in 2002
Airfare structure reform, Trusted Traveler program needed according to new
survey
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(Newstream) -- The Business Travel Coalition has
released its annual U.S. Business Travel Survey. Major findings include
that: 1) business travel will decline further in 2002; 2) many corporate
cutbacks in travel are permanent; 3) business airfare levels are perceived
as too high; 4) substitutes to the commercial airline product have become
mainstream; and 5) support is growing for a "Trusted Traveler" program as an
antidote to airport security hassles.
The 2002 U.S. Business Travel Survey was sponsored by Unisys Corporation
(NYSE: UIS) and conducted in collaboration with the Association of Corporate
Travel Executives (ACTE). Some 184 corporations representing $2.9 billion in
annual, domestic U.S. air transportation purchases participated in the
survey. Members of the press may access complete survey results at
www.btctravelogue.com/pressonly.htm.
"It is imperative that as an industry we strive toward implementation of a
Trusted/Registered Traveler program to improve security, traveler
convenience and airline economics," said Olivier Houri, vice president and
general manager, Unisys Global Transportation. "Many business travelers are
opting to use their cars in short-haul city-pair markets because of the time
and hassle factors associated with airport security. Since business travel
levels are declining, we at Unisys are working with our airline and airport
customers to bring these levels back up through the development of
technology-based loyalty and identification systems."
"The airline industry financial crisis is far graver than in the early
1990s. Strategies for inducing significant business traveler demand at
profitable yields are few. The industry must find a way to reform the
airfare structure for business travel," stated Kevin P. Mitchell, publisher,
BTCTravelogue.com.
Unisys is a worldwide information technology services and solutions company
whose 37,000 people help clients in more than 100 countries utilize
technology to seize opportunities, overcome challenges and succeed in the
global economy. The company offers a rich portfolio of business solutions
led by its expertise in consulting and systems integration, outsourcing,
network services and security, coupled with leading enterprise-class server
and related technologies. Primary vertical markets for Unisys worldwide are
the financial services, transportation, communications, media, commercial
and public sectors, including U.S. federal government customers. Unisys is
headquartered in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, in the Greater Philadelphia area.
For more information on the company, access the Unisys home page on the
World Wide Web at www.unisys.com. Investor information can be found at
www.unisys.com/investor.
The mission of Business Travel Coalition, located in Radnor, PA, is to
advocate public policy and supplier issues of concern to customers of the
business travel industry. Learn more about BTC at http://www.btctravelogue.com
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